Brilliant Gem Camellia
Camellia japonica ‘Hikarugenji‘ ‘Herme’
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 7a-10b Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Shrub
Species: Japonica (Winter, Spring blooming)
Height at Maturity: 8-12′ depending on pruning
Width at Maturity: 6-8′ depending on pruning
Spacing: 5′ for solid hedges; 12’+ for space between
Spacing: 5′ for solid hedges; 12’+ for space between
Flower Color: Salmon and Pink shades, Scarlet,White
Flower Size: Large, 4″
Flowering Period: Late Winter, Early Spring
Flower Type: Semi Double to Double
Fragrant Flowers: Yes
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 – more info, Drought (when established), Heat, Humidity
Intolerances: Direct Afternoon Sun, Constantly Soggy Soil
Attracts: Visual Attention
Description
A long bloomer and a flamboyant addition to your garden, the Brilliant Gem Camellia produces an abundance of spectacular and stunning, fragrant, semi-double to full-double flowers with rich salmon-pink petals edged in white and variably painted with bright pink and random scarlet streaks. The flowers are produced in abundance over a long season from mid to late winter well into spring. A bright and festive but also durable and reliable camellia, Hermes presence in many older gardens today is a testament as to why it has stood the time since in was first introduced in 1859.
Landscape & Garden Uses
Growing to 8 to 12 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide, depending on pruning, the Brilliant Gem Camellia can be grown as a shrub or small tree. As a shrub this beauty is ideal for use as a specimen, in groupings, or as 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 this camellia grows taller lower branches can be removed to form a highly attractive and colorful small evergreen tree that serves well as a focal point specimen in landscape borders and home foundation plantings. A fine addition to camellia gardens, pink theme gardens, Asian 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 camellia variety is not reliably winter hardy. Find Your Zone
Spacing: 5 to 6 feet apart for a 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. Morning sun with afternoon shade or filtered sunlight is perfect. All-day filtered sun is fine.
Helpful Articles
Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for 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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This rare variety was a gift for a very particular camellia
lover, my sister, and it met her every expectation…so that’s as good as it can get! Many thanks!——————————————You’re welcome! Thanks for the kind words and wonderful review! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope your sister enjoys it for years to come! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
lover, my sister, and it met her every expectation…so that’s as good as it can get! Many thanks!——————————————You’re welcome! Thanks for the kind words and wonderful review! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope your sister enjoys it for years to come! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
I purchased this Brilliant Gem camellia as a get well gift for my sister-in-law. She is thrilled to have the perfect gift for her, the consummate gardener, that arrived intact and healthy. She is excited to see the beauty of the flowers next spring. I am thrilled that it shipped promptly and got to here without incident. This was my first purchase from Wilson Brothers. I have already ordered again–this time for my garden!————————————–Yay! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope your sister in law enjoys it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
The plant arrived promptly, was perfectly packaged, and looks very healthy. We’ve planted it based on the website’s thorough instructions, and we look forward to seeing it thrive in years to come!—————————————Thanks for the photos! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
Hi – thank you for offering to post my review.
I give you the highest rating across the board for the lovely group of camellias that you delivered. They arrived in perfect condition. I planted and watered and fertilized per your instructions, and they already have new growth just a couple of weeks after planting. We are thrilled. Thank you!————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
I give you the highest rating across the board for the lovely group of camellias that you delivered. They arrived in perfect condition. I planted and watered and fertilized per your instructions, and they already have new growth just a couple of weeks after planting. We are thrilled. Thank you!————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
My husband gave this camelia to me knowing I absolutely love this Herme camelia because my mother planted one in her yard. She loved gardening and had many varieties, but this was my favorite. I can’t wait to display the flowers in my home like she did.
The plant arrived in great condition!!!——————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
The plant arrived in great condition!!!——————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
Fast shipping and so well packaged. Look forward to seeing and smelling this blossom!————————————————–Thanks so much for your review. Let us know if there’s ever anything we can help you with. 🙂 – Beth | WBG
The plant is tall and strong, and leaves are shinning. A little surprise though, there is not visible sign of buds but I am sure it will produce a lots in the coming seasons.————————————I’m sure it will! We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂
Plant arrived in perfect condition, very healthy. We’ll see how it looks when it flowers in the spring. Very happy with this purchase.———————————————-We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂
This plant arrived with several buds on it and handled the transplant very well. Not even a week after I planted it did 2 of the blooms open and they were stunning!——————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
Lovely plant. Very full and nice.———————-WBG Reply: Hi Kitty, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Hermes Camellia. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens
Very good quality and superior services. Thank you.—————————-WBG Reply: Hi Melih, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Hermes Camellia Japonica. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens





















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