Overlapping petal rows
The formal-double form builds a dense rosette without an exposed centre of stamens.
Camellia 'Bonomiana' Premium 15cm
Normal price
€26,00
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Camellia japonica ‘Bonomiana’
Double petals, double takes, double “wow” 😍
- Formal double flowers
- White-blush ground, carmine marks
- Glossy evergreen foliage
- Light partial shade
Camellia japonica ‘Bonomiana’ combines the intricate geometry of a full rosette with the surprising beauty of its carmine markings. Darker stripes and flecks bring individual details to flowers with a white to softly blushed ground. Overlapping rows of petals close the centre, creating a small sculpted form worth examining at close range. Glossy, deep green leaves frame the flowers clearly and bring out the gentle palette of this historic camellia.
Beside an entrance or seating area, its flowers can be appreciated at the distance they deserve. Low woody branching gradually fills an upright crown, organising the middle layer of a border and remaining green after flowering. A few fine-textured companions allow the patterned petals to take the leading role.
What makes it distinctive
Three elements define this exact cultivar’s form and presence.
Distinctive carmine markings
Dark stripes and flecks stand out against the white to blushed ground of the petals.
Dense woody branching
Upright stems with lateral branches give the shrub a lasting presence beyond the flowering season.
Why you will love it: It brings the atmosphere of an established garden to an everyday route, with details to enjoy each time you pass.
In the garden & on the terracePlacement & plant combinationsA sheltered position that shows off the flowers and natural branching.
Rosettes within reach
Place it in the middle layer of a partially shaded border or beside an entrance with filtered light. Allow about 2 m for the mature crown, with acidic organic soil and protection from drying winds and sudden early sun after frost.
Compatible combinations
Combine contrasting textures in light partial shade, acidic humus-rich soil and even moisture with good drainage. Keep companions away from the camellia’s immediate base.
- Leucothoe fontanesiana ‘Rainbow’ — pink and cream leaf markings accompany the flower stripes; position it to one side with room for its own crown
- Blechnum spicant — narrow dark fronds make a quiet vertical base in acidic partial shade
- Primula vulgaris — adds low early-spring flowers in cool soil without hiding the lower branches
Care at a glance
Light
Light partial shade or gentle morning sun, protected from hot afternoon sun and drying wind.
Watering
Keep the rootball evenly moist, watering when the surface begins to dry; use low-mineral water where possible.
Climate & resilience
An evergreen shrub that tolerates a cool winter, while container roots and opening buds need shelter from prolonged hard frost.
Safety
An ornamental plant, not food. Do not eat flowers or leaves, and keep treated plant parts away from children and animals.
Detailed careComplete care guideLight, watering, soil, feeding, pruning and problem prevention.
Position & light
Choose filtered light and shade during the hottest hours. After frost, shelter buds and open flowers from sudden early morning sun.
Watering & drainage
Check moisture just below the surface and water thoroughly before the rootball dries out. Let excess water drain away and watch for summer drought while the next flower buds develop.
Soil & repotting
Use acidic, humus-rich compost with good drainage. When repotting, keep the top of the rootball at the same level and increase pot size gradually.
Feeding
Apply ericaceous feed after flowering and lightly again in early summer, only onto already moist soil.
Pruning & habit
Correct the shape with a few selective cuts after flowering. Remove dead or weak branches and avoid routine hard clipping to preserve natural branching.
Problem prevention
Chlorosis in young leaves often signals high pH or hard water; browning bud edges commonly follows drought or sudden frost.
Development through timeFrom establishment to mature habitLow branching becomes denser and striped rosettes return during the cooler part of the annual cycle.
First season
In its early years it builds upright woody stems and dense glossy foliage, with flowering increasing as the lateral branches mature.
The next flowering cycle
Each summer it forms rounded buds on fresh growth; these open slowly into formal-double rosettes during the following cycle.
Mature scale
In the ground, it can eventually reach about 3 m tall and 2 m wide. Container-grown plants usually remain smaller, depending on available root space.
Mature habit & dimensions
Over timeHeight about 3 mSpread about 2 mDense upright crown
Low woody branches support a dense upright crown. Leave the sides free to develop without continual clipping.
Form through time
Seasonal cycleEvergreen foliage
Late winter–springFull white-to-blush rosettes with carmine markings within the dark crown.
Summer–autumnThe evergreen crown thickens and matures rounded flower buds for the next cycle.
During flowering, the striped rosettes stand out within the crown. In summer, flowers give way to leafy shoots and developing buds.
What to expect after planting: Protect the young root system from lime and summer drought; the characteristic dense crown develops slowly without hard shearing.
History & originCultivar originFrom Milan and its 1858 publication to the long history of its striped flowers.
Camellia japonica ‘Bonomiana’ arose from seed grown by Sangalli in Milan, Italy. Louis van Houtte published it in 1858 in Flore des Serres et des Jardins de l’Europe, describing white flowers with carmine bands and more than eighty petals. Ambroise Verschaffelt followed with an illustrated account in the 1859 Nouvelle Iconographie des Camellias.
During its long cultivation history it became associated with the synonyms ‘Bonomiana Alba’ and ‘Fain’s Best’. Branch sports gave rise to separate selections such as ‘Bonomiana Rosea’ and ‘Doutor Balthazar de Mello’. Today the name is also used for plants with a blushed petal ground, so the historical white form does not describe every plant traded under this name.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScience nobody asked forBotanical detail for anyone who wants to know what lies behind the plant’s appearance
The hidden centre of a rosette
‘Bonomiana’ is a formal-double form: overlapping rows of petals cover the centre without visible stamens. This arrangement differs from a rose-form double camellia, whose flower eventually opens enough to expose stamens.
When one shoot changes
A stable change in one shoot can be retained through vegetative propagation and give rise to a new cultivar. ‘Bonomiana’ has recorded sports, including ‘Bonomiana Rosea’.
Frequently asked questions
Six practical answers covering position, water, seasonality, pruning, mature scale and safety.
01How much light does it need?
Light partial shade or gentle morning sun, protected from hot afternoon sun and drying wind.
02When should it be watered?
Keep the rootball evenly moist, watering when the surface begins to dry; use low-mineral water where possible.
03Can it stay permanently in a pot?
It can live for many years in a large pot with acidic compost, even moisture and regular top-dressing, remaining smaller than a plant grown in the ground.
04When and how should it be pruned?
Prune minimally immediately after the actual flowering cycle, removing only weak, crossing or disproportionate shoots.
05How large does it become?
In a suitable position in the ground, allow for about 3 m in height and 2 m in spread over time. Growing in a pot usually limits its size.
06Is it safe to eat or for pets?
An ornamental plant, not food. Do not eat flowers or leaves, and keep treated plant parts away from children and animals.
📦 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.