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Camellia 'Mary Williams' premium 15cm

Name: Camellia 'Mary Williams' premium 15cm
Brand: Greenleaf Garden Center
SKU: CamelMarWilliams15cm
Price: 34.0 EUR
Availability: InStock

€34,00

Quantity

Evergreen flowering shrub · Theaceae · Upright, bushy habit

Camellia reticulata ‘Mary Williams’

Every bud makes an entrance 💃

Family: Theaceae · Pot diameter: 15 cm · Height: approximately 40 cm

Large single pink flowers
Golden anthers
Spring flowering
Evergreen foliage

Camellia reticulata ‘Mary Williams’ gives pink a clear, unpretentious stage: large open flowers, broad notched petals and a bright heart of golden anthers. The single corolla lets every detail show, while deep green foliage makes the colour stand out even more. It has the elegance of a classic camellia with a lighter expression, inviting anyone who loves flowers to look closely at the way each bloom is put together.

Its upright, full habit gives a composition structure without making it feel formal. Near a garden seating area or an entrance, the flowers become small points of interest along an everyday route, while its green presence remains after spring has completed its colourful passage.

‘Mary Williams’ received the RHS Award of Merit in 1942 and First Class Certificate in 1964.

What makes it special

Open flowers, textured leaves and an upright framework give three different reasons to stop beside it.

Pink with breathing room

Large single flowers open like shallow cups, with broad, gently notched petals around a golden centre.

Leaves with texture

Visible veins give the green leaves a distinctive surface and interest between flowering seasons.

A lasting green presence

The evergreen upright shrub holds the composition together, while spring flowering changes its brightness.

Why you will love it: It lets you enjoy the whole flower, from the edge of a petal to its small golden heart.

In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations Pink flowers close to view, with room for the future crown

Planting position

Sheltered pink focal point

Give it bright partial shade in a sheltered courtyard or the middle layer of an ericaceous border. A long-term spread of 1.5–2.5 m calls for sufficient clear space to show its natural crown. For two separate mature specimens, about 2.5 m between centres is a conservative design starting point. In a cold area, choose a pot that can be moved into protection.

Colour & compatibility

Textures around pink

Combine white, fresh green and fine foliage in acidic, humus-rich soil with partial shade, even moisture and good drainage. Leave each plant its own growing space.

Pieris japonica — Alongside or behind, where the larger shrub has room; its white bells offer a quiet counterpoint to pink.
Polystichum setiferum — In front and to the side, with space for its arching fronds and cool, organic soil.
Epimedium grandiflorum — Low along the border edge, for delicate spring flowers without hiding the camellia’s open blooms.

Care at a glance

Light

Bright partial shade, sheltered from strong midday sun and cold, drying winds.

Watering

Keep the root zone lightly moist. Water as the surface begins to dry, allowing excess water to drain freely.

Climate & hardiness

For mild winters. RHS H3: −5 to +1°C under UK conditions; pots and flowers need particular protection from frost.

Safety

An ornamental plant, not for consumption. Choose a position that discourages children or pets from chewing it.

Detailed careComplete care guideMicroclimate, acidic soil, steady moisture and flower protection

Sheltered partial shade

‘Mary Williams’ needs a mild microclimate away from cold winds. Avoid strong early sunshine on frozen flowers and hot afternoon exposure in summer.

Plant at the right depth

Use humus-rich, acidic to neutral soil with good drainage. Keep the top of the root ball level with surrounding soil and leave mulch clear of the stem base.

Growing in ericaceous compost

Repot gradually into a pot with drainage holes and ericaceous compost. In a chalky garden, a pot gives better control of the growing medium; avoid a sudden move into an oversized pot.

Water before it wilts

Check roots more often in hot weather and as flower buds develop. Water thoroughly as the upper layer begins to dry and empty the saucer. Prefer rainwater where tap water is very hard.

Measured feeding

During active growth, use an ericaceous fertiliser according to its label on moist compost. Avoid excessive or late feeding, which encourages tender growth before cold weather.

Frost and light pruning

Before frost, move the pot to a bright, cool, protected place. H3 does not guarantee undamaged flowers or roots. If shaping is needed, prune lightly immediately after flowering.

Development over timeA crown that opens into springFrom root establishment to the annual cycle of flowers and leaves

Establishment comes first

The young plant needs time to extend its roots beyond the original pot. Its first season does not yet show its final size or full flowering potential.

An upright branching crown

Woody shoots branch low down and fill an upright, bushy outline. In suitable ground, allow approximately 1.5–2.5 m in height and spread over 10–20 years.

Flowers and green continuity

Flowering comes in spring, with exact timing depending on climate. Afterwards, green leaves and fresh growth maintain the shrub’s presence.

Mature habit & dimensions

10–20 years

Height 1.5–2.5 mSpread 1.5–2.5 mUpright, bushy

Low woody branching and an upright, full crown; allow room for a spread up to 2.5 m.

Form through time

Evergreen

SpringSingle pink flowers with a golden centre

SummerGreen foliage, without flowers

The single pink spring flowers give way to the green summer crown of ‘Mary Williams’. Microclimate shifts the opening time.

What to expect after planting: These dimensions describe a mature plant in the ground. Pot growth is constrained by root space and care; the plant in a 15 cm pot does not yet have this scale.

History & origin Cultivar origin From Yunnan seed to the gardens at Caerhays

‘Mary Williams’ was selected at Caerhays Castle in Cornwall, England, from plants raised from seed collected by George Forrest in Yunnan, China. Associated with collection Forrest 27163, it is a selection of Camellia reticulata without a known named parental cross.

On 17 March 1942 it received the RHS Award of Merit and was described that year in the Gardeners’ Chronicle. The RHS First Class Certificate followed in 1964: two separate milestones in the history of this longstanding cultivar.

Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScience nobody asked forBotanical details for anyone curious about what lies behind the plant’s appearance

The network is venation

In Camellia reticulata, lateral veins and their smaller connections form a visible network across the leaf. The texture of ‘Mary Williams’ shows this structural organisation of the blade, rather than a pattern of different pigments.

A golden centre with organs

In the single flower of ‘Mary Williams’, golden anthers sit on pinkish-white filaments. In C. reticulata, the outer filaments join low down into a short tube, while the style is a separate central part of the female reproductive organ; a visible centre alone does not guarantee fruit.

Frequently asked questions

Six answers about the identity, flowering and everyday needs of ‘Mary Williams’.

01Is it japonica or reticulata?

‘Mary Williams’ is a cultivar of Camellia reticulata. The surname Williams does not make it one of the hybrid Camellia × williamsii camellias.

02When will the pink flowers appear?

In spring, depending on weather and the maturity of the buds. Having buds does not fix a specific opening date.

03Will it suit a cold balcony?

It needs a mild, sheltered microclimate. RHS rates it H3, so an exposed balcony with frequent frost is a poor permanent choice unless protection is possible.

04Can I plant it in chalky soil?

Choose a pot with ericaceous compost. Adding a little acidic compost to a strongly chalky border does not permanently correct the reaction of the surrounding soil.

05Why do buds fall before opening?

First check whether roots have swung from drought to excessive water, and whether frost or cold winds occurred. Stabilise conditions instead of automatically adding more fertiliser.

06Will it stay small in its 15 cm pot?

Not indefinitely. The diameter describes the pot supplied. ‘Mary Williams’ is a perennial shrub and gradually needs more space as its roots develop.