Heavenly scent

Long prized for their glossy green leaves and reliable winter colour, camellias are a familiar presence in many gardens. There’s a wide range of species and countless cultivars available, offering plenty of options for interest throughout the cooler months. Yet among this abundance sits a quieter group – camellias with scent.

Stop and smell the camellias

Often subtle, though sometimes surprisingly rich, these fragrant varieties have largely slipped under the radar. Overshadowed by the larger, showier blooms camellias are known for, they have been less widely grown, but are well worth seeking out. Fragrance in camellias tends to be concentrated within a small group of species and their hybrids. Most garden varieties are bred from Camellia japonica and C. sasanqua – and fragrance is not their primary feature. Instead, it is C. lutchuensis – a species native to southern Japan – that has played a key role in introducing scent. Gorgeous Camellia ‘Spring Mist’ (above) is an example of a cross between C. japonica and C. lutchuensis.
Here’s another one of our favourites:

C. ‘Koto-no-Kaori’ The Japanese name of this hybrid means ‘perfume of the ancient capital’ and its pink flowers, which appear from winter to spring, are gently fragrant. An open, upright shrub, it grows to 1.5–2m tall and wide. Great for containers, courtyards or mixed plantings.

For more stunning examples of sweetly scented camellias, get your copy of our June issue, out now!

Photos: Alamy