Camellia williamsii

Camellia × williamsii (Theaceae) is a hybrid cultivar group resulting from the cross of C. saluenensis and C. japonica, first bred in 1923 at Caerhays Castle, Cornwall, by John Charles Williams. These evergreen shrubs combine the cold hardiness and free-flowering habit of C. saluenensis with the larger flower size of C. japonica, producing blooms from late winter into spring.

Camellia × williamsii selections prefer a sunny or partially shaded, sheltered position on acid soil (pH 5.5 to 6.5). They make excellent companion plants for other acid-loving woodland species. The cultivar 'Donation' is the most widely recognized selection. Pest and disease associations have not been fully documented in the profile but are expected to parallel those of the parent species.