Varieties of White Single Flower Camellias

Christmas Camellia

• Christmas camellias (Camellia sasanqua), hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 9, bloom anytime from late autumn to late winter, often right around Christmas. Some varieties with single white flowers include "Baronesa de Soutelinho" (Camellia sasanqua "Baronesa de Soutelinho") and "Setsugekka" (Camellia sasanqua "Setsugekka"), both with a large yellow central fluff of stamens; "Kenkyo" (Camellia sasanqua "Kenkyo"), with twisted petals; and "Fukuzutsumi" (Camellia sasanqua "Fukuzutsumi"), with a slight pink blush.

Japanese Camellia

• Japanese camellias (Camellia japonica), hardy in USDA zones 7 through 9, bloom in early spring. They tolerate semi-shady conditions and can get to 12 feet in height. Some varieties that bear single, white flowers include "Winter's Cupid" (Camellia japonica "Winter's Cupid") and "Korean Snow" (Camellia japonica "Korean Snow"), both slightly hardier and can grow in USDA zone 6; "Cornish Excellence" (Camellia japonica "Cornish Excellence"), with a large center yellow fluff of stamens; and "Delightful" (Camellia japonica "Delightful"), with rounded petals.

Camellia Hybrids

• Camellia hybrids are crosses of one species with another species. Hybrids sometimes have advantages from both parents that makes the hybrid more desirable, such as earlier bloom time or better cold tolerance. There are a few single-flowered white varieties. "Winter's Snowman" (Camellia x Winter's Snowman"), part of the Ice Angels series, blooms in winter and is hardier that most camellias, growing well in USDA zones 6 through 10. "Quintessence" (Camellia x Quintessence") flowers in winter but is less hardy, growing well in USDA zones 8 through 10.

Other Single, White-Flowered Camellias

• There are single, white-flowered varieties in species that aren't as readily available as the Japanese, Christmas, or hybrid camellias. "Plain Jane" (Camellia oleifera "Plain Jane") is a hybrid of the tea oil camellia and is hardy in USDA zones 6b to 9. "Charles Michael" (Camellia x williamsii "Charles Michael") has slight pink undertones and is hardy in USDA zones 7 through 9. Camellia sinensis, hardy in USDA zone 7 through 9 and the source of tea, bears single white flowers. Both the cultivars "Tea Breeze" (Hardy in USDA zones 7 through 9) and "Sochi" (from the Sochi region of Russia, hardy in USDA zone 7 through 10) bear single white flowers as well.