Description Family Theaceae. Garden origin. Received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. Winner of the American Camellia Society’s National Hall of Fame Award. Dense, dark evergreen foliage forms a vigorous, upright crown. Fuchsia-pink rose-like flowers bloom in a prolonged spring show. A robust upright shrub, thriving in non-alkaline soil and part shade. Camellia E.G. Waterhouse in Your Garden A truly outstanding camellia, its clear, shining fuchsia-pink flowers gleam against dense, dark evergreen foliage. Although often compared to rose blooms, the abundant petals have a waterlily-like arrangement, forming neat and pristine layers. Camellia x williamsii ‘E.G. Waterhouse’s upright, vigorous branches form a near-columnar shape before spreading with age. Hardy in all UK gardens, it reaches 4m high and 2.5m wide in 10–20 years, flourishing in non-alkaline soil. When choosing a pink-flowered vigorous woodland shrub, there are few better choices; its rewardingly vigorous growth sets it apart. Enjoy its complex, elegant flower form by planting it near paths or in pots in dappled shade on Norfolk patios. Thriving in Suffolk’s woodland gardens, its long succession of blooms lasts from March to April. Its petals fall readily after losing their pristine pink colour, maintaining a fresh appearance. Growing Tips for Your E.G. Waterhouse Soil and Sun: Plant in non-alkaline, moist, but well-drained soil; dappled shade is ideal. Planting: Set in spring or autumn; summer planting requires extra attention to watering. Plunge for 20 minutes to drench the root ball before planting. Watering: Moderate; tolerates short spells of drought once rooted, water regularly whilst it is rooting out. Pruning: Optional; left to grow naturally it will form a rounded upright medium-sized shrub. Alternatively, it can be pruned to form any shape immediately after flowering. Pinch out spent flower spikes during the season. With a deserved reputation as a ‘good-doer’, there are many reasons to plant this pink-flowered vigorous woodland shrub. Its healthy crown of glossy foliage makes an excellent clipped specimen, adding an architectural quality that lasts all year. Its rapid growth and adaptability to growing in pots, and all styles of garden, even jungle escapes, make it a go-to variety. Planting Ideas for the Formal Flowered Camellia E.G. Waterhouse Make a lush, jungly escape with dense evergreen species flowering in succession all season. Plants that perform well in shade are indispensable when composing a community of plants, where they can occupy understory positions. Such a scheme could be realised in a woodland or jungle style, with towering species providing shelter and microclimate. Plant Camellias in the dappled shade cast by Phyllostachys vivax f. aureocaulis, Borinda macclureana, Eriobotrya japonica, and Trachycarpus fortunei in a jungle garden. Surround them with Bergenias ‘Harzkristall’ and ‘Autumn Magic’ for a pink spring flourish in woodland displays. Place them between Cordyline australis, gnarled or ‘Hojiblanca’ olives, Chamaerops humilis, and Brahea armata in a potted, contemporary patio display.
