Red that wakes the space
Early flowering supplies high colour intensity while much of the garden remains quiet.
Camellia 'Blood of China' 15cm
Normal price
€10,00
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Camellia japonica ‘Blood of China’
Red flowers while the garden is still half asleep 😴
- Vivid red flowers
- Semi-double to peony flowers
- Dense evergreen foliage
- Winter–spring interest
Camellia japonica ‘Blood of China’ brings a warm salmon-red glow to the heart of the camellia season. Its generous flowers unfold irregular, gently waved petals, ranging from semi-double to loose peony form, and reveal a small golden centre as they open fully. Against polished deep-green foliage, every bloom seems brighter. This is a camellia full of life and character, combining vivid colour with a natural, unforced elegance.
Its dense evergreen habit acts as a strong architectural element in partially shaded courtyards, sheltered entrances and larger pots, developing over time into an impressive specimen shrub. Red brings stone, timber and neutral walls to life, so the cultivar produces a powerful result with very little companion planting.
What makes it special
Three characteristics explain why this cultivar genuinely stands out: its principal colour display, its particular natural habit and the value it retains beyond a single season.
Folded, open petals
Irregular petals reveal a small group of golden stamens in the fully open flower.
A future specimen shrub
The dense broad habit acquires substantial presence as it matures.
Why you will love it: Vivid red against glossy evergreen foliage in the quietest part of the garden year.
In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations Place it against a neutral wall or natural stone and keep the surrounding palette calm so that nothing competes with the red.
A red evergreen focal point in partial shade
Use it as a specimen by a sheltered entrance, in the middle to rear layer of a border or in a large pot capable of supporting long-term growth.
For a loose group, allow at least 2.5m from centre to centre. In a smaller space, choose one camellia as the focal point rather than a crowded row.
Combinations that work
Combine red, deep green, cream and natural timber or stone tones in bright partial shade and acid, cool, free-draining soil.
- Sarcococca confusa — Shares sheltered partial shade and adds a fine winter fragrance beneath the camellia’s substantial evergreen presence.
- Hakonechloa macra — Brightens the base with soft moving texture in cool soil and filtered light.
- Heuchera — Provides low foliage and colour continuity without hiding the flowers or glossy outline of the camellia.
Care at a glance
Light
Bright partial shade or gentle morning sun, with shelter from hot midday light, drying winds and sudden changes.
Watering
Even, cool moisture without waterlogging; pay particular attention from summer through bud development.
Climate & hardiness
Evergreen and winter hardy with an RHS H5 rating. A sheltered position reduces damage to buds and early flowers.
Safety
This page covers ornamental use. Do not consume flowers or leaves without certain identification, and keep pruning tools clean.
Detailed careComplete care guideBright partial shade, shelter, acid soil, pots, watering, feeding, buds and light pruning
Light & shelter
Place in bright partial shade or gentle morning sun, sheltered from hot midday light, drying winds and sudden early sun after frost.
Acid soil & planting
It needs organic, acid to neutral soil that holds cool moisture yet drains freely. Plant shallowly, keeping the root surface level with the surrounding soil.
Growing in a pot
Choose a roomy outdoor pot with excellent drainage and an ericaceous growing medium. Avoid moving into an excessively large pot, as unused compost is slow to dry.
Watering & buds
Maintain even moisture, especially from summer through bud development. Water thoroughly when the surface begins to dry and always allow excess water to escape.
Feeding acid-loving plants
Use an ericaceous fertiliser sparingly after flowering and in early summer, applying it only to already moist compost. Stop late feeding so new growth can ripen.
Pruning & flower protection
The natural habit needs very little pruning. Clean or correct lightly just after flowering and shelter buds and flowers from cold, drying air.
Development over timeFrom a young plant to a mature camelliaCorrect establishment gradually gives way to characteristic branching, verified mature scale and the cultivar’s full seasonal rhythm.
Root establishment
After planting, growth may remain slower while the root system settles. Correct moisture and a sheltered microclimate build the base for dense future growth.
The natural habit becomes clear
Main stems branch gradually to form a dense, bushy, broadly upright habit. Its natural line is best maintained with light correction rather than rigid clipping.
A mature seasonal rhythm
With maturity it repeats its principal display every year: salmon-red flowers, from semi-double to loose peony form, from late winter through spring.
Mature form & dimensions
Mature shrubHeight 2.5–4mSpread 2.5–4mBroad, dense crown
Low branches spread sideways and fill with glossy leaves. Folded salmon-red flowers appear within the leafy crown, preserving the shrub’s natural outline.
Form through time
EvergreenFoliage phaseLateral shoots retain the dense evergreen foliage.
Late winter–springSemi-double to loose peony flowers with a small golden centre.
After flowering, the same broad evergreen structure remains. The exact start and duration of flowering depend on the microclimate.
What to expect after planting: Growth may be restrained through the first season while roots establish. In a suitable position in open ground it reaches approximately 2.5–4m in height and 2.5–4m in spread (maturity 10–20 years). Growth in a pot is usually more restrained and depends on available root space. Season and microclimate determine whether the plant arrives with flowers, buds, fresh growth or a quieter crown.
History & origin Cultivar origin From the Stoutz garden to the 1938 name
The story of ‘Blood of China’ begins with an unnamed plant that Henry Stoutz bought from the Industrial Gardeners’ Boys’ Home in 1905 and planted in the family garden at Mobile, Alabama. W. Rubel propagated it at Longview Nursery in 1931; the first plants were sold in 1934 as ‘Lot No. 17’, before the name ‘Blood of China’ was published in 1938.
Meanwhile, the original plant moved to Bellingrath Gardens and was mistakenly associated with the name ‘Victor Emmanuel’ through resemblance to an older Italian camellia. The confusion also reached Kiyono’s 1938–1939 catalogue. That name is not an accepted synonym of ‘Blood of China’; it belongs to the history of the distinct ‘Vittorio Emanuele II’.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScience nobody asked forBotanical details for anyone curious about what lies behind the plant’s appearance
Peony form does not mean a peony
The term describes the arrangement of floral organs: petals form loose, irregular folds around a small group of stamens. In ‘Blood of China’, the golden stamens become visible when the flower opens fully, while the form can range from semi-double to loose peony.
Frequently asked questions
Six practical answers covering light, watering, pots, mature size, pruning and seasonal behaviour.
01What light is best in Greece?
Bright partial shade or gentle morning sun, with shelter from hot midday light, drying winds and sudden changes.
02Does it need special soil?
It needs organic, acid to neutral, freely draining soil. In strongly alkaline water or soil, younger leaves may show chlorosis.
03Can it remain in a pot?
Yes, in ericaceous compost and a pot with excellent drainage. Gradual repotting and even moisture matter more than an excessively large pot.
04How large does it become?
In a suitable position in open ground it reaches approximately 2.5–4m in height and 2.5–4m in spread (maturity 10–20 years). Growth in a pot is usually more restrained and depends on available root space.
05When does it flower?
Its principal flowering period is late winter to spring. Exact timing depends on microclimate and the maturity of the buds.
06Why might flower buds drop?
Sudden drought, large moisture fluctuations, hot drying air or a move into an unsuitable microclimate can trigger bud drop. Stable conditions are the goal.
📦 Your plant travels protected
Every order is prepared with care so your plant arrives upright, secure and safe.
Individual protection
Plants in pots with a capacity of 3 litres or more are placed in individual boxes that hold the pot securely and reduce the risk of tipping over.
Sturdy packaging
We use reinforced cardboard designed to protect against impacts and vibration during transport.