Williamsii Camellia Camellia × williamsii 'Wilber Foss'
ABOUT
Camellia 'Wilber Foss' is a elegant plant known for its beautiful floral display and glossy green foliage. The flowers are particularly striking, often showcasing a soft, blush pink color with a hint of deeper pink at the petal edges. They are typically large and showy, bearing a classical, symmetrical shape that is both pleasing to the eye and striking in appearance. Each flower features a prominent center of golden stamens, which adds a striking contrast to the delicate petals and contributes to the overall beauty of the bloom. The leaves of 'Wilber Foss' provide a perfect backdrop for its stunning flowers. They are dark green, with a shiny, leathery texture, and an elliptical shape tapering to a point. The robust foliage forms a dense canopy, which makes the plant an excellent choice for adding greenery to a garden throughout the year. The leaves may also exhibit slightly serrated edges, giving them a refined and textured appearance. This hybrid Camellia is grown not only for its blooms but also for its overall attractive form. Its branching habit is well-structured, creating an appealing, balanced shape within a garden setting, making it a versatile plant suitable for various landscaping designs. Despite the omission of size-related details, 'Wilber Foss' is known to be a plant that can fit well in diverse garden spaces, providing year-round interest with its evergreen leaves and seasonal floral display.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Theaceae
Synonyms
Williamsii Camellia
Common names
Camellia × williamsii 'Wilber Foss'.
ToxicityTo humans
Williams' Camellia, generally considered non-toxic to humans, does not commonly cause poisoning when ingested. There are no prominent symptoms of toxicity associated with this plant, and it is usually regarded as safe.
To pets
Williams' Camellia is also considered non-toxic to pets. It typically does not pose a risk of poisoning if pets consume parts of the plant. Therefore, there are no specific symptoms associated with its ingestion, and it is not known for causing harmful effects to animals.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Evergreen
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Pink
Height
6-8 feet (1.8-2.4 meters)
Spread
4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 meters)
Plant type
Shrub
Hardiness zones
7
Native area
Asia
Benefits
General Benefits- Ornamental Appeal: Camellia × williamsii 'Wilber Foss' offers exquisite flowers that enhance the beauty of gardens and landscapes.
- Year-round Interest: With glossy evergreen leaves, this camellia provides visual interest throughout all seasons.
- Low Maintenance: Once established, this plant requires minimal upkeep, making it ideal for busy gardeners.
- Shade Tolerance: This camellia can thrive in partial shade, offering a flowering option for less sunny garden areas.
- Drought Resistance: After establishment, it displays a degree of tolerance to dry conditions, requiring less watering.
- Long Blooming: It blooms over a long period, often from late winter to early spring, providing color when few other plants flower.
- Privacy Screening: With its dense growth habit, it can be used to create privacy screens or hedges in residential landscapes.
- Attracts Pollinators: The flowers attract bees and other pollinators, supporting local ecosystems.
- Versatility: Suitable for planting in containers, it can be used to decorate patios, terraces, or as a specimen plant.
- Adaptability: It can adapt to a variety of soil types, as long as they are well-draining.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Camellia flower petals can be used to create natural dyes for fabrics or crafting, with colors ranging from pale pinks to deeper reds depending on the petals' original hues.
- Pressed Camellia flowers are often used in scrapbooking, card making or as a delicate addition to bookmarks, adding an elegant floral touch to paper crafts.
- Dried Camellia petals can serve as a component in potpourri mixes, coupled with other dried flowers and essential oils to create a fragrant blend for the home.
- Camellia petals can be used in bath salts or bombs, providing not just scent and skin-softening properties but a luxurious visual of floating petals in the bathwater.
- The blooming Camellia bush can be shaped and pruned into a living fence or privacy screen in gardens, offering year-round greenery and seasonal blooms.
- Fallen Camellia petals can be collected and used as a natural mulch for garden beds, which decompose over time to enrich the soil with organic matter.
- The leaves of the Camellia plant, when dried and finely crushed, may be incorporated into homemade incense blends for a unique aromatic experience.
- Camellia branches with buds and blossoms are used in floral art, particularly in Japanese Ikebana, where they create an attractive element of natural beauty and structure in the arrangements.
- Creating botanical prints with Camellia flowers and leaves is a way to use the plant in art, by transferring the pigments and shapes directly onto paper or fabric.
- Camellia petals can be frozen in ice cubes to add a decorative touch to drinks or punch bowls during special events or gatherings, creating a visually appealing detail.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Camellia is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Camellia is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Admiration: The Camellia generally symbolizes admiration, and Camellia × williamsii 'Wilber Foss' is no exception. Its beautiful blooms reflect the high esteem one person may hold for another.
- Perfection: With its perfect form and stunning petals, the 'Wilber Foss' variety of Camellia represents the quest for perfection or the admiration of it.
- Longevity: Camellias are known for their long-lasting blooms and evergreen leaves, symbolizing the wish for a long and healthy life.
- Love: Often given as a gesture of romantic affection, the Camellia, including 'Wilber Foss', can represent deep, enduring love.
- Gratitude: The gift of a Camellia plant, such as the 'Wilber Foss', is a way to express gratitude, making it a thoughtful thank-you present.
WaterCamellia 'Wilber Foss' prefers regular watering, especially during dry spells, to maintain moist but not soggy soil. It should be watered deeply once a week, providing around 1 to 1.5 gallons of water each time, depending on the size of the plant and the weather conditions. During the hotter months, the frequency may increase to twice a week, while in cooler months, it may only require water every couple of weeks. Ensure that the plant has good drainage to prevent root rot. Adjust watering in response to rainfall, reducing supplemental watering accordingly.
LightCamellia 'Wilber Foss' thrives in partial shade to filtered sunlight. The best spot for this camellia is one that is sheltered from the harsh afternoon sun but can receive bright, indirect light during the rest of the day. Dappled light beneath the canopy of tall trees is ideal, providing protection from excessive sun exposure while still meeting the plant's light requirements.
TemperatureCamellia 'Wilber Foss' is hardy and prefers a temperature range between 40°F and 85°F. It can survive minimum temperatures down to about 10°F, making it suitable for outdoor growth in many regions. The ideal temperature for this camellia is between 50°F and 70°F, where it can grow and bloom to its full potential.
PruningPrune Camellia 'Wilber Foss' to maintain its shape, remove dead or weak growth, and encourage vigorous branching. The best time to prune is just after the blooming period in late winter or early spring before new growth starts. Pruning can be done annually, but depending on the plant's vigor and shape, it may not be necessary every year. Always use clean, sharp tools to make clean cuts.
CleaningAs needed
SoilFor the Camellia Williamsii 'Wilber Foss,' a well-draining, acidic soil mix with a pH between 5.0 and 6.5 is ideal. A blend of two parts peat moss or ericaceous compost to one part perlite or pine bark fines is suitable for providing the necessary drainage and acidity.
RepottingCamellia Williamsii 'Wilber Foss' should be repotted every two to three years, ideally during the spring before the growing season begins. Mature plants can be repotted less frequently, every four to five years, as long as they are not showing signs of being pot-bound.
Humidity & MistingCamellia Williamsii 'Wilber Foss' thrives in medium to high humidity levels. Aiming for humidity around 50-60% would be beneficial for optimal plant health and bloom production.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Provide bright, indirect light and keep soil evenly moist.
Outdoor
Plant in partial shade, shelter from strong winds, mulch well.
Hardiness zone
7-9 USDA
Life cycleCamellia × williamsii 'Wilber Foss', commonly known as Camellia, begins its life as a seed, which, when planted in well-draining, slightly acidic soil and kept moist, will germinate to produce a small seedling. The seedling emerges with a pair of true leaves and, over several years, grows into a bushy evergreen shrub, experiencing a juvenile phase characterized by increased vegetative growth. As the plant matures, it enters the reproductive phase, typically flowering in late winter to spring with large, showy blossoms that range from white to pink and red. After pollination, often by bees, the flowers develop into seed pods, which eventually dry and release seeds to complete the life cycle. Throughout its life, which can span several decades, the Camellia undergoes periodic growth cycles with active spring and summer vegetative growth, followed by autumn and winter flowering. Annual pruning, after flowering, encourages new growth and more prolific bloom in the successive years.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring to Early Summer
Propogation: The Camellia × williamsii 'Wilber Foss', commonly known as the Williams camellia, is most successfully propagated through semi-hardwood cuttings. The ideal time to take cuttings is in late summer to early autumn when the growth begins to mature. Cuttings should be about 3 to 4 inches (approximately 7.5 to 10 centimeters) long and taken with a sharp, sterilized tool to prevent disease. These cuttings are usually treated with a rooting hormone before being placed in a well-draining soil mix. The pots with cuttings should then be covered with a plastic bag or placed in a propagator to maintain high humidity, and kept out of direct sunlight but in a warm spot. Roots typically develop within a few months, after which the young plants can be gradually acclimated to less humid conditions before being transplanted outdoors.
