White Empress Camellia. This is one of the first Camellias that I learned as a kid with its imposing large semi-double flowers with impressive yellow stamens. The American Camellia Society describes it thus: "white with fluted petals; mass of yellow stamens gives this pure white a yellow glow; leaves large, dark green, tapered ends, shallow serrations." Here in mid zone 8 its starts to open in late November. It is a vigorous upright grower and to me it is the standard by which I judge other Camellia japonica. It was originated and introduced in 1939 by Overlook Nurseries in Chritchton, Alabama.
Zones 7-9
