Camellia japonica San Dimas

Camellia 'San Dimas' is an old variety of Japanese camellia with a compact and erect habit, remarkable for its late winter flowering of vibrant red, enhanced by its glossy dark green foliage. Its flowers are semi-double, velvety poppy red, and arranged around a large heart of golden stamens. The modest size, tidy habit, and vibrant colour of this evergreen camellia allow it to be grown in a large pot on the terrace or balcony for many years, bringing much cheer to the surroundings of the house while the garden is still dormant.

Camellia 'San Dimas', obtained in 1966 in California and awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society, belongs to the family Theaceae, like its ancestor the Camellia japonica. It is a compact and erect bush with deep rooting, which will reach about 1m (3 ft 4 in) in height and 80cm (32 in) in spread at 10 years old. From February to April it is covered with semi-double flowers, quite large with silky petals, which really resemble poppies and have numerous yellow stamens. Its evergreen foliage is composed of large elliptical leaves, 10 to 12cm (4.7 in) long, leathery, dark green and glossy on the upper surface. While this shrub is hardy down to -15°C (5 °F) in the ground, its flowering may be compromised by snow, icy winds, and temperatures below -5°C (23 °F).

The 'San Dimas' Japanese Camellia thrives in mild and humid climates and flourishes in coastal regions, in acidic, humus-rich and well-drained soil. It will tolerate full sun in favourable climates, but it is in partial shade, protected from scorching sun and sheltered from strong winds, that it will give its best. It can be planted e.g. in a shrub bed, alongside other acid-loving plants like Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Cornus Kousa, or Kalmia Latifolia. But it would be a shame to drown this 'San Dimas' variety in a tangle of foliage or flowers. It deserves a special place, near the entrance of the house or in a beautiful pot on the terrace, to be stored away in winter in cold climates.