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types of white camellias

White camellias are cherished in New Zealand gardens for their classic beauty, versatility, and ability to illuminate shady spots throughout winter and early spring. With so many captivating varieties available, it's easy to find the perfect camellia to suit hedges, specimen planting, or woodland borders. This page explores the different types of white camellias, highlighting distinct forms and recommended cultivars renowned for their stunning blooms and reliable performance in Kiwi conditions.

Camellia 'Early Pearly'

Camellia Early Pearly is a very popular, evergreen shrub that flowers from late autumn through winter. It produces showy, mildly fragrant, semi-double, pure white blooms, contrasting nicely with the glossy, dark green foliage as it grows to about 2 m tall and 1.5 m wide.

Buy Camellia 'Early Pearly'

From $27.95

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Shrubs

Height: 2.00 m

Spread: 1.50 m

Flowering time: Autumn, Winter

Garden uses: Containers, Hedging, Living areas, Parks, Pool areas, Specimen

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, White

Camellia 'Setsugekka'

Camellia 'Setsugekka' is a sasanqua variety with large, semi-double, white flowers with wavy, fluted petals and a yellow centre. These contrast nicely with the glossy, dark green leaves as it grows to 3 m tall and 2 m wide.

Buy Camellia 'Setsugekka'

From $27.95

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Shrubs

Height: 3.00 m

Spread: 2.00 m

Flowering time: Autumn, Winter

Garden uses: Containers, Hedging, Living areas, Parks, Pool areas, Screening, Specimen

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, White

Popular Types of White Camellias

While the genus Camellia boasts hundreds of cultivars, only a handful produce pure or near-white flowers. These white-flowering types display a range of shapes—from single to double blooms—and often feature lovely hints of yellow stamens or blushes of pink. White camellias generally fall into either the sasanqua or japonica groups, both of which are reliable performers in New Zealand gardens.

Camellia 'Setsugekka'

Among the most iconic types of white camellias, Camellia 'Setsugekka' features large, ruffled single blooms with golden stamens from early autumn to winter. Highly valued for its vigorous growth and exceptional flowering, it's ideal for hedging or as a feature shrub, bringing elegance and luminosity wherever it's planted.

Camellia 'Early Pearly'

For gardeners searching for types of white camellias that bloom on the early side, Camellia 'Early Pearly' is a stand-out choice. This variety delivers abundant double white flowers, tinged softly with blush at times, from late autumn through winter. Its compact growth makes it well suited to containers or foundation planting.

Camellia 'Paradise Pearl'

Camellia 'Paradise Pearl' brings a subtle twist to the types of white camellias, with large, semi-double white blooms and lush green foliage. Its moderate size and dense habit make it popular for screening, hedging, or as a backdrop for perennial gardens craving winter colour.

Camellia 'Nuccio's Pearl'

Renowned for its perfectly formed white double blooms, Camellia 'Nuccio's Pearl' provides months of colour from late winter. The classic elegance of this japonica type makes it a favourite for formal gardens and mixed shrub borders.

Camellia 'Apple Blossom'

While not pure white, Camellia 'Apple Blossom' deserves a mention among the types of white camellias. This delightful sasanqua offers pale pink buds opening to blush-white, single blooms—a beautiful addition to informal borders and woodland gardens.

Choosing and Growing Types of White Camellias in New Zealand

Selecting the best types of white camellias for your garden depends on your space, desired flowering season, and style. Most white camellias thrive in dappled light, with protection from harsh afternoon sun and strong winds. They prefer acidic, free-draining soils and benefit from a thick mulch layer to retain moisture. Regular watering in establishment and annual feeding with a camellia-specific fertilizer will help keep plants lush and flowering abundantly.

Explore our range of white camellia varieties, and enjoy classic floral beauty year after year.

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Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

types of white camellias

Camellia 'Early Pearly'

Camellia 'Setsugekka'

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