Camellia season is starting to wind down and I am left with images of beautiful camellias in my mind. Mostly, I picture the formal double form camellias. These little showstoppers are my favorites. Not always the largest, but with amazing form that only formal double form camellias can achieve.
When I was first introduced to camellias, I was unaware of the different flower forms. I saw only beautifully saturated flowers of all different colors and sizes. It wasn’t until I saw one of my first formal double form camellias that I understood just how important the flower form is to camellias.
Camellia ‘Pink Perfection’
Camellia Forms
Camellia flower forms are divided into six categories:
Single: One row of not over 8 petals and having conspicuous stamens.
Semi-double: Two or more rows of petals and having conspicuous stamens.
Anemone: One or more rows of large outer petals lying flat or undulating; the center a convex mass of intermingled petaloids (similar to a petal, but smaller and a bit irregular in shape) and stamens.
Peony: A deep rounded flower of two forms;
Loose peony: Loose petals, intermingled with stamens and sometimes petaloids.
Full peony: Convex mass of mixed irregular petals, petaloids and stamens or with no stamens showing.
Rose Form Double: Overlapping petals, showing stamens in a concave center only when fully open.
Formal Double: Fully overlapping, many rows of petals, never showing stamens.
The variation in formal double form camellias can vary. The ‘Brooklynia’ flower below shows a very “stacked” type of flower form. The petals line up one on top of the other to create really interesting layers.
Camellia ‘Brooklynia’
Others, like Camellia ‘Miss Bessy Belville’ are a more loose type of petal arrangement. This variety is considered a medium size, but at 4-6″ in diameter are fairly large for the formal double form camellia category.
Camellia ‘Miss Bessy Belville’
Formal Double Form Camellias
I enjoy looking back through my photos and admiring so many of the different images from the season. With formal double form camellias on my mind, I hope you enjoy these images of cultivars featuring this form.
Camellia ‘Candidissima’
Camellia ‘Nuccio’s Cameo’
Camellia ‘Black Lace’
Camellia ‘La Peppermint’
Camellia ‘Lallarook’ (Lalla Rookh)
Camellia ‘Lilyi’
Camellia ‘Sawada’s Dream’
Camellia ‘Spring Formal’
