Brenda Buchan
| Guest columnist
Now is a great time to purchase and plant camellias. Whether you enjoy showing camellias or simply want to grow award-winning varieties, this article is for you.
Many folks in Tallahassee travel around North Florida and South Georgia to attend camellia shows. The Tallahassee Camellia Society typically gets an excellent turnout at our annual show held the second weekend in January.
Did you know you do not have to be a member of a camellia society to show in a camellia show? All you have to do is arrive early the morning of the show, fill out a card with your name and the name of the camellia you wish to show, and submit it. That’s it – there is no charge to enter, and at most shows someone will gladly walk you through the process if you need help.
To find upcoming shows, visit the American Camellia Society webpage at americancamellias.com. Even if you are not interested in exhibiting, but instead want to grow fabulous camellias at home, this article highlights the most award-winning camellias in the United States.
Mr. J. D. Thomerson of Valdosta, Georgia, a camellia grower and friend of the Tallahassee Camellia Society, wrote an article in the January 2025 edition of the Atlantic Coast Camellias Journal titled “Popular Camellia Varieties Then and Now.” He listed popular camellia varieties from the past and compiled a summary of the top camellias that won awards from 2018 to 2023.
He recorded the top five camellias in each of the following classes and size categories: Japonica (very large, large, medium, and small), Reticulata (very large, large, and medium), Non-Reticulata Hybrid (large, medium, and small), Best Miniature, and Best Sasanqua.
As a reminder, Japonica, Reticulata, Non-Reticulata Hybrid, and Sasanqua are all different species of camellias. While there are additional species, these are the ones that grow well in North Florida and South Georgia and are most often shown.
The following list identifies the camellia species, bloom size, and the most award-winning varieties. If you are looking to purchase camellias that are generally considered award-winning, this list is a great place to start.
Japonica CamelliasVery Large: Lauren Tudor and sports, Edna Bass and Edna Bass variegated, Show TimeLarge: Royal Velvet and Royal Velvet variegated, Julius Nuccio, Ferris Wheel, Carter Sunburst and sports, Grand Marshall and Grand Marshall variegatedMedium: Betty Sheffield and sports, Margaret Davis, Black Magic, Lady Laura, Bella JinhuaSmall: Tama Peacock, Red Hots and Red Hots variegated, Red Devil and Red Devil variegated, Tudor Baby variegated, Man SizeReticulata CamelliasVery Large: Frank Houser and Frank Houser variegated, Pleasant Memories, Ray Gentry and Ray Gentry variegated, Hall’s Pride variegated, Dr. Clifford ParksLarge: Holy Pure, Valentine Day and Valentine Day variegated, Valley KnudsenMedium: Adrienne Boueres, Black Lace and sportsNon-Reticulata Hybrid CamelliasLarge: Cile Mitchell, Mona Jury and Mona Jury variegatedMedium: Julie variegated, First Blush, Island Sunset, Dancing BlazeSmall: Spring Daze, Freedom Bell, Night RiderMiniature CamelliasFircone variegated, Sweet JaneSasanqua Camellias
While not on this list, the camellia ‘Ville de Nantes’ remains popular across generations and deserves an Honorable Mention. Several varieties on this list were also developed and registered in the North Florida and South Georgia region.
For example, Adrienne Boueres was developed by Howard and Mary Rhodes in Tallahassee, Carter’s Sunburst was developed by Tommy Alden in Byron, Georgia, and Betty Sheffield was developed in Quitman, Georgia
If you want to treat yourself to a show-worthy camellia this fall, you cannot go wrong with one of these varieties. See you at the camellia show in January!
Brenda Buchan is a Master Gardener Volunteer with UF/IFAS Extension Leon County, an Equal Opportunity Institution. For gardening questions, email the extension office at AskAMasterGardener@ifas.ufl.edu
If you go
What: Tallahassee Camellia Society annual show
When: 1-5 p.m. Jan. 10 and 1-4 p.m. Jan. 11
Where: Florida Department of Agriculture’s Doyle Conner Building, 3125 Conner Blvd.; tallahasseecamelliasociety.com
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