Ella Ward Parsons Camellia

Camellia japonica ‘Ella Ward Parsons’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 7a-9b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Shrub

Species: Japonica (Winter, Spring blooming)

Height at Maturity: 6-10′ depending on pruning

Width at Maturity: 6-8′ depending on pruning

Spacing: 5′ for solid hedge; 12’+ for space between plants

Flower Color: Blush Pink with Orchid Pink and White centers

Flower Size: 4″

Flowering Period: Late Winter, Early Spring

Flower Type: Formal Double to Double Rose form

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Dark Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: No

Berry Color: NA

Sun Needs: Morning Sun with Afternoon Shade or Filtered Sun, All Day Filtered Sun

Water Needs: Average, Lower when established

Soil Type: Clay (amended), Loam, Sand (amended), Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well Drained

Soil pH: 5.0 – 6.5 (Acid)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer, Drought (when established), Heat, Humidity

Intolerances: Direct Afternoon Sun, Constantly Soggy Soil

Description

Ella Ward Parsons is one of the most incredibly beautiful and glorious Camellia japonica in our late winter and spring garden. She features an abundance of large, 4 inch diameter formal double to rose form blush-pink flowers with a whopping 60 petals that are a glowing white at the center of the flower and delicately “airbrushed” orchid-pink around the edges. A dense grower deep green glossy leaves that are the perfect background to display the magnificent flowers in all their glory. A must for Camellia enthusiasts! To enjoy the flowers indoors display several cuttings in vase or float just one in a bowl of water.

History
This Camellia was introduced in 1968 and named after Ella Ward Parsons, wife of the president of the American Camellia Society. She and her daughter Alison were national judges for the American Camellia Society and Alison was the President of the Society in 1967-68. They lived in the Norfolk, Virginia area and always maintained a home in Hebron.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 6 to 10 feet tall and wide depending on pruning, the Desire Camellia can be grown as a large shrub or small tree. As a shrub it is ideal for use as a specimen, in groupings, or as a hedge or background plant in landscape borders and is especially nice as a corner plant or espalier (trained to grow flat against a wall) in home foundation plantings. As your camellia plant grows taller, lower branches can be removed to form a small tree that serves well as an attractive and colorful specimen in landscape borders and home foundation plantings. A fine selection for camellia gardens, white theme gardens, cottage gardens, cut flower gardens and woodland borders. Also suitable for containers that can be brought indoors during winter by those who garden above USDA Zone 7a, where this camellia variety is not reliably winter hardy. Find Your Zone

Spacing: 4 feet apart for solid hedge; 12 feet or more apart for space between plants

Growing Preferences

Camellia adapt well to various soil types preferring a moist but well-drained acidic soil that is rich in organic matter. Constantly soggy or wet soil is a slow killer. In general, Camellia grows and blooms better in partial shade with some shelter from the hot afternoon sun. Morning sun with afternoon shade or filtered sunlight is perfect. All-day filtered sun is fine.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Camellias.

Planting Camellias
Pruning Camellias
How To Fertilize & Water Camellias
How To Espalier Plants & Trees

*Espalier (pronounced: ih-spal-yay) …an ornamental shrub or tree that has been trained to grow flat against a wall, fence, or other vertical, flat surface.

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