Camellia japonica 'Donkelaarii' Flower (21/01/2012, Kew, London)
Position: Dappled to full shade
Flowering: Winter
Soil: Moist, well-drained, acidic
Eventual Height: 3m
Eventual Spread: 3m
Hardiness: 6b – 9b
Family: Theaceae
Camellia japonica ‘Donkelaarii’ is a medium sized evergreen winter flowering shrub. The evergreen leaves are alternate, have serrate margins, leathery in texture, dark green on the upper surface, paler on the underside and are up to 10cm long. The young branches are purple/ brown becoming gray with age. The flowers have deep pink petals and protruding stamen and are semi-double. They appear along the branches, particularly at the ends are 12cm in diameter. The fruit consists of a three compartmented globe shaped capsule which has a diameter of up to 2cm.
Camellia japonica ‘Donkelaarii’ is commonly known as the Japanese Camellia Donkelaarii. The species Camellia japonicais native to Japan, Korea and China. In it native habitat it grows in forests at altitudes of 300m to 1,100m. This plant should be positioned in a site sheltered from cold, dry winds and early morning sun as buds and flowers may be damaged by cold winds and late frosts.
The etymological root of the binomial name Camellia is derived from and named after the botanist George Kamel. Japonica is derived from the Latin for Japan as it was first discovered there by Engelbert Kaempfer in the eighteenth century. Donkelaarii is named after the nineteenth century head gardener of the Leuven Kruiduin.
Camellia japonica 'Donkelaarii' (21/01/2012, Kew, London)
The landscape architect may find Camellia japonica ‘Donkelaarii’ useful a winter flowering shrub which will tolerated shaded conditions and acidic soils.
Ecologically, C. japonica ”Donkelaarii’ is of little wildlife value in the UK.
C. japonica ‘Donkelaarii’ prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It prefers neutral to acidic soils.
C. japonica ‘Donkelaarii’ requires little maintenance.
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