Camellia japonica Three Sisters (Red, Pink White)

Camellia japonica 'Three Sisters' is a selection of three Camellia varieties that are as aesthetically pleasing as they are complementary. Grouped together in the same pot, where their dark green glossy foliage blends together, they offer a stunning display in spring when their flower buds open to reveal refined double flowers. The intense red of one variety is matched by the soft pink of another, while the pure white of the third subtly balances this contrast of colours. A beautiful slow-growing composition that can be kept in a container for many years. It can also be planted in the garden, for example near a shaded entrance. 

Camellia japonica belongs to the family Theaceae, which includes around ten or twenty genera depending on the classification, the most well-known in ornamental gardening being Camellia, and the most economically important species being Camellia sinensis, which produces tea. Native to Japan, Korea, and China, Camellia japonica forms small trees 6 to 9 metres (19 to 29 feet) high in these regions, producing 5-petaled flowers, usually red in colour. Selected for hundreds of years in Japan, where single flowers are favoured, and in China where they have focused on double flowers, Camellia japonica was introduced to Europe around 1745 and then spread worldwide, sparking the passion of collectors as well as enthusiasts and selective nurserymen. The species now has countless cultivars, with single, semi-double, or highly double flowers, monochrome or bicoloured, to the point where choosing becomes difficult because space is limited!

'Three Sisters' simplifies the choice by offering three particularly decorative varieties in the same pot. Each one offers flowers of a different colour: a vibrant red, a tender pink, and a pure white, which are the three main colours of this species. In March and April this composition is adorned with magnificent double flowers, with a somewhat geometric design, reminiscent of certain old roses or peonies. With a diameter of about 7 to 8 cm (3 in), they enchant the budding spring for several weeks, beautifully decorating a terrace or balcony. The foliage of these varieties consists of medium-sized elliptical leaves with pointed tips, of a beautiful dark green colour with a glossy appearance. This dark background provides a perfect setting for the flowers, and when they have disappeared it continues to be ornamental throughout the rest of the year.

These varieties have been carefully selected for their good resistance to diseases or insects, as well as their compatibility with each other. Comfortable in a coastal climate, Japanese Camellia suffers in drought and heatwaves. It can withstand cold temperatures down to -10°C (14 °F) without any problems, even -15°C, but the flower buds can be damaged in subzero temperatues, so be careful of late frosts.

The 'Three Sisters' Japanese Camellia will be perfect for enhancing a living space such as a terrace or large balcony. You can keep it in reasonable proportions by lightly pruning after flowering once it reaches about 2 m (6 ft) in height. Alternatively plant it in open ground in the garden, where it can then reach its mature size (4 to 5 m (13 to 16 ft) provided you are patient). Plant it in a bed of acid-loving plants, such as Rhododendrons, which offer different colours such as purple or orange, or alongside the colourful and finely cut foliage of Japanese Maples to create a Japanese-style scene. If you keep it on the terrace, play with your options by adding dwarf fruit trees. As well as the aesthetics you can enjoy delicious fruits, and even combine both with the Dwarf Griotella Cherry Tree, which will delight you with its light white flowers, in bloom at the same time as your camellias, and then with its red fruits that are both decorative and succulent!