The Diversity of Camellias

Illustrated explanation of the Camellia Nomenclature Flower Forms
(c) 2004 Mississippi Gulf Coast Camellia Society
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For purpose of description, camellia blooms are categorized as: single, semidouble, rose form double, formal double, full peony, loose peony, and anemone in Camellia Nomenclature. This discussion further amplifies remarks in the nomenclature.

Camellia Flower Forms

For purpose of classification, camellias are identified by color, size, flower form, growth habit, and bloom period in Camellia Nomenclature. Putting aside subjective issues in describing colors, typically the most difficult task is identifying the proper form. Camellia Nomenclature recognizes seven distinct flower forms.

 
Single A single bloom has a single row of not over eight petals, and conspicuous stamens. Individual petals can be regular, irregular, or loose. Singles are relatively rare among cultivated japonicas but are common among sasanqua and one suspects the uncultivated species.
Semidouble A semidouble bloom is similar to a single bloom, except that it has two or more rows of petals that can be regular, irregular or loose. Like the single the yellow stamens are conspicuous when open. Perhaps the biggest problem in identifying a semidouble is the large variety of irregular petal forms – which includes "crepe, ruffled, waved, fluted, crimped, folded, crinkled, twisted, swirled, upright, notched or fimbriated or fringed, incurved or downcurved." The important thing to keep in mind about the semidouble is that its yellow stamens are conspicuous and usually in the center of the bloom rather than intermixed with petals. In addition, semidoubles do not generally have petaloids or partly formed petals. Shown Guilio Nuccio

The semidouble is the most common of forms with over 1300 listed in Camellia Nomenclature.

 
 

‘Oscar B. Elmer var.’ a semidouble. Variegation in camellias as in tulips is the result of a virus. Since viruses can be intentionally transmitted from plant to plant by grafts. Almost every recent cultivar comes in a solid and variegated form.

 
 

‘Raspberry Ice’ a semidouble with creped petals.

 

 
Rose form double A rose form double is similar to a semidouble in that it has multiple rows of petals and the yellow stamens are conspicuous (when fully open), some even regard it as a special case of semidouble. The distinguishing characteristic of the rose form double as compared to the semidouble is that:
  • Petals are arranged in a generally overlapping – or imbricated – fashion like shingles on a roof.
  • Petals tend to roll back to reveal the yellow stamens in a concave center much like some roses.

There are around two hundred rose form doubles. Shown Brother Rose.

 
 

Formal double A formal double is easily recognized by its highly geometric organization. Two characteristics distinguish it from other doubles.

  • Petals over lap precisely – fully imbricated.
  • There are never any yellow stamens showing.
  • Typically the petals are regular, rather than irregular.

There are several hundred formal doubles, the most famous being ‘Pink Perfection.’ Shown Adorable.

 
 

 

‘Campari’s’ slightly ruffled petals, may suggest a semidouble, but the lack of stamen and the pattern of petal placement make it a formal double.

 
   
Full peony There are two "peony" forms the full peony and the loose peony. The classic full peony forms include ‘Debutante’ and ‘Professor Charles S. Sargent.’  Shown Midnight Magic Var. The peony form is like the double in that it has several rows of petals. It differs from the various doubles in that:
  • The flower is rounded when viewed from the side.
  • The most of the individual petals are irregular – ruffled etc.
  • Intermixed with the petals are petaloids – petal-like flower parts that botanically are not petals but may be petal colored.
  • The yellow stamens are either not present or inconspicuous – often being mostly hidden among the petals and petaloids. 

 
Loose peony The loose peony form is similar to the full peony but the petals are more open and the form less clearly rounded.  Shown King Size Var.

It is sometimes difficult to distinguish a loose peony from a semidouble but these aids may help:

  • The loose peony is apt to have some petaloids – petal-like flower parts often resembling very narrow petals.
  • The yellow stamens are intermixed among the petals and petaloids rather than being grouped in the center of the bloom.
  • The semidoubles do not have petaloids.

 
Anemone Form The anemone form, which is named after its resemblance to the sea creature rather than the flower is easily distinguished by its pompom center of petals intermixed with petaloids and stamens, and its out rows of relatively flat (sometimes undulating) large petals. Shown Tiffany

 

 
Multiple Forms Nature is rarely as tidy as man. There are hundreds, if not thousands of camellia varieties that have multiple forms. The two ‘Tiffany’ blooms used to illustrate the Loose Peony Form and Anemone Form, for example, came from the same plant!

 

 
 

 

‘Elaine’s Betty’ with its ruffled petals is considered a peony form to rose form double.

 

 
 

‘Lily Pons’ a single to semidouble (as shown here) with long trough like petals. Note that while some of the symmetry suggest a formal double the visible stamens rule that out.

 
‘Black Magic’ with its wax-like petals is a semidouble to rose form double. But where are the stamen? Perhaps it has not fully opened.

 

 

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Updated 12/01/04
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