Jolly Roger Camellia Japonica
Camellia japonica ‘Gigantea’
Note: Jolly Roger Camellia has been sold under many other names including: Gigantea, Magnolia King, Kilvingtonia, Emperor Frederick William, Emperor Wilhelm, Fanny Davenport, Gaiety, Mary Bell Glenman, Monstruoso Rubra and perhaps others.
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 7a-9b Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Shrub
Species: Japonica (Winter, Spring blooming)
Height at Maturity: 10-12′
Width at Maturity: 6-8′
Spacing: 5-6′ for solid hedges; 12’+ for space between plants
Spacing: 5-6′ for solid hedges; 12’+ for space between plants
Flower Color: Bright Red, White, Yellow stamens
Flower Size: 5-7″
Flowering Period: Late Winter, Spring
Flower Type: Semi-Double
Fragrant Flowers: No
Foliage Color: Dark Green
Fragrant Foliage: No
Berries: No
Berry Color: NA
Sun Needs: Morning Sun with Afternoon Shade or Filtered Sun, All Day Filtered Sun
Water Needs: Average, Lower when established
Soil Type: Clay (amended), Loam, Sand (amended), Silt
Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist
Soil pH: 5.0 – 6.5 (Acid)
Maintenance / Care: Low
Resistances: Deer, Drought (when established), Heat, Humidity
Intolerances: Direct Afternoon Sun, Constantly Soggy Soil
Attracts: Visual Attention
Description
Said to be tolerant of sun or shade, Jolly Roger, Camellia japonica ‘Gigantea’, sports one of the largest and most unique and impressive flowers of any Camellia on the planet! Each enormous flower is unique to the other with random splashes and markings of both bright red and white. That said, you might see flowers in solid red or solid white, or individual petals in solid red or solid white. Some flowers will have lots of variegation while others won’t, and one or both can appear on the same plant. The lustrous dark green leaves provide a perfect backdrop for the flowers. To enjoy or show off the flowers inside the home, take some cuttings and display in your favorite vase, or float just one in a bowl of water. A magnificent Camellia that is sure to be a conversation piece in the garden!
Landscape & Garden Uses
A moderate growth rate with an upright habit of growth to about 10 to 12 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide, the Jolly Roger Camellia can be grown as a shrub or attractive small tree. As a shrub it is ideal for use as a specimen, in groupings, or as a hedge or background plant in landscape borders and is especially nice as a corner plant or espalier (trained to grow flat against a wall) in home foundation plantings. As your camellia grows taller, lower branches can be removed to form a highly attractive, evergreen focal point specimen tree for use in landscape borders and home foundation plantings. A fine addition to red color theme gardens, Camellia gardens, cottage gardens, cut flower gardens and woodland borders. Also suitable for containers that can be brought indoors during winter by those who garden above USDA Zone 7a, where this variety is not reliably winter hardy. Find Your Zone
Suggested Spacing: 5 to 6 feet apart for solid hedge; 12 feet or more apart for space between plants
Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a, where this Camellia variety is not reliably winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.
Growing Preferences
Camellia adapt well to various soil types however prefer a moist but well-drained acidic soil that is rich in organic matter. Constantly soggy soil is a slow killer. In general, Camellia grows and blooms better in partial shade with some shelter from the hot afternoon sun, however G.G Gerbing says this one will tolerate sun or shade. That said, we think morning sun with afternoon shade or filtered sunlight is perfect. All-day filtered sun is fine as well.
Helpful Articles
Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant, fertilize, prune and water Camellias…
Planting Camellias
Pruning Camellias
How To Fertilize & Water Camellias
How To Espalier Plants & Trees
*Espalier (pronounced: ih-spal-yay) …an ornamental shrub or tree that has been trained to grow flat against a wall, fence, or other vertical, flat surface.
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Arrived perfectly . Nicely packed.
Plant alive and doing well in ground.——————————–WBG Reply: Hi George, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Jolly Roger Camellia. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens
Plant alive and doing well in ground.——————————–WBG Reply: Hi George, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Jolly Roger Camellia. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens
The plant arrived healthy and full of buds. It seems to be doing well. Now that I know it should not be in direct sunlight, and it does not like wet feet, I am sure it will remain healthy. ——————- WBG Reply: Hi Charles – Thanks so much for providing your review of the Gigantea Camellia and we hope you enjoy this magnificent plant for years to come. You’re absolutely right about camellias preferring a well-drained soil and some shade. Morning and late evening sun are fine. Direct afternoon sun can scorch or discolor leaves. Let us know if there’s ever anything else we can help you with. We’re at your service! – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens
Did you know Gigantea is also known as Jolly Roger? I already have a huge one growing in my garden, and when I saw you were selling them, I had to have another. It arrived as a gorgeous plant, full of buds and nice dark green leaves. I highly recommend a Jolly Roger for YOUR garden. —————————- WBG Reply: Hi Wanda – Thanks so much for your review of the Gigantea Camellia and we hope you enjoy it as much as the other one you have. Gigantea has been sold under many other names: Magnolia King, Kilvingtonia, Emperor Frederick William, Emperor Wilhelm, Fanny Davenport, Gaiety, Jolly Roger, Mary Bell Glenman, Monstruoso Rubra, and perhaps others, but we just go by the cultivar name in the scientific name. That said, thanks for bringing this to our attention because we went ahead and menmtioned all these other names so folks will know. Let us know if there’s ever anything else we can help you with. We’re at your service! – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens



















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