Camellia japonica Lipstick

The Camellia 'Lipstick' is a variety of Japanese camellia that is both original and refined. It produces small flowers which resemble delicate anemones. Its quite unique flowers form a corolla of crimson petals adorned with a variegated red pompom in the centre. The modest size, neat habit, and refinement of this evergreen camellia allow it to be grown in a beautiful pot on the terrace or balcony for many years, bringing much joy to the surroundings of the house in winter. It has its rightful place in a small Japanese garden.

Camellia 'Lipstick', developed in 1981 in California, belongs to the family of tea plants, like its ancestor the Camellia japonica. It is a compact and bushy shrub, reaching about 60 cm (23.6 in) in height and 80 cm (31.5 in) in width after 10 years. From January to March, it produces modest but very unusual flowers, with a centre composed of petaloids: stamens and pistils transformed into small fringed petals. The corolla petals are dark and shiny red, while the petaloids are white, heavily variegated with red. Its evergreen foliage consists of large elliptical leaves, 10 to 12 cm (3.9 to 4.7 in) long, leathery, finely toothed at the edges, dark green and glossy on the upper side. While this shrub is hardy down to -12°C in open ground, its flowering may be compromised by snow, cold winds, and temperatures below -5°C (23 °F).

The 'Lipstick' Japanese Camellia thrives in mild and humid climates and flourishes in coastal regions, in acidic, humus-rich, and well-drained soil. In terms of exposure, it will tolerate non-too-strong sun in favourable climates, but will give its best in partial shade or even shade, protected from intense sunlight and sheltered from strong winds. In the garden plant it e.g. at the front of a shrub border, alongside other acid-loving plants such as Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Cornus Kousa, or even Kalmia Latifolia. However, it would be a shame to drown this precious 'Lipstick' variety in a tangle of foliage or flowers. It deserves a special site, near the entrance of the house, or in a beautiful pot on the terrace, to be stored away in winter in cold climates.