Camellia japonica 'Mrs Tingley' – A Timeless Camellia with Exquisite Soft Salmon-Pink Blooms
Camellia japonica 'Mrs Tingley' is a beautifully refined evergreen shrub, cherished for its elegant formal double flowers in a wonderfully warm and luminous shade of soft salmon-pink. Flowering reliably from late winter through to spring, this classic and much-loved variety delivers one of the most graceful and consistently generous floral displays of any camellia, bringing a gentle warmth and quiet sophistication to the garden at the most welcome time of year.
The blooms are exquisitely formed, with layer upon layer of softly cupped, neatly arranged petals building into perfectly symmetrical, rose-like flowers. Their delicate salmon-pink colouring has a warm, peachy quality that glows with particular beauty in the low light of late winter, creating a stunning and unhurried contrast against the plant's deep, lustrous dark green evergreen foliage. Each flower holds its form with great elegance throughout the season.
'Mrs Tingley' develops into an attractively upright and bushy shrub of handsome proportions, making it a superb specimen plant for sheltered borders, woodland gardens, and acid-loving planting schemes. It is equally well suited to growing in large containers, where its exquisite blooms can be admired at close range on patios and in sheltered courtyard settings.
Beyond its magnificent seasonal flowering, the dense, glossy evergreen canopy provides valuable year-round structure and acts as a polished, attractive backdrop for shade-loving companions throughout the garden. Hardy, long-lived, and increasingly floriferous with age, this camellia rewards patient gardeners with a richer and more spectacular display with every passing year.
Like all camellias, 'Mrs Tingley' thrives in a sheltered position in partial or dappled shade, with protection from cold, drying winds and early morning winter sun, which can damage or scorch newly opened blooms on frosty mornings. It performs best in moist, humus-rich, well-drained, acidic soil and benefits greatly from an annual mulch of composted bark or leaf mould to retain moisture and maintain the ideal growing conditions at the roots.
Graceful, warm-toned, and endlessly charming, Camellia japonica 'Mrs Tingley' is a truly outstanding choice for gardeners seeking a classic camellia of enduring beauty, refined character, and exceptional reliability.
Seasonal Beauty & Growth
Winter
Plump, well-formed flower buds develop against the deep, glossy evergreen foliage, quietly building anticipation for the warm and luminous display ahead.
Late Winter–Spring
Exquisite formal double flowers open in glowing soft salmon-pink, their beautifully layered petals creating a prolonged and breathtaking floral display.
Summer
Deep, lustrous evergreen leaves provide rich structure and a handsome green presence throughout the growing season.
Autumn
The dense, polished canopy remains attractive and weed-suppressing while new flower buds quietly set for the following season's display.
Why Grow Camellia 'Mrs Tingley'?
✔ Exquisite formal double flowers in warm, glowing soft salmon-pink
✔ Long and reliable flowering season from late winter through into spring
✔ Glossy dark evergreen foliage with year-round garden appeal
✔ Elegant upright, bushy habit — outstanding as a specimen or container plant
✔ Increasingly floriferous and rewarding as it matures
✔ A classic, much-admired variety of enduring charm and beauty
✔ Hardy and dependable in sheltered UK gardens
Perfect For
- Woodland and dappled shade gardens
- Acid-loving shrub borders
- Feature and specimen planting
- Large patio containers
- Sheltered courtyards and walled gardens
- Japanese-style garden schemes
- Romantic and cottage-style planting designs
Planting & Care Guide
Position: Partial shade or dappled shade; shelter from cold, drying winds and avoid early morning sun on frost-touched buds and open blooms. A west- or north-facing sheltered wall or fence is ideal.
Soil: Moist, humus-rich, acidic, well-drained soil. Mulch annually with composted bark or leaf mould to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and gently feed the roots.
Hardiness: Fully hardy throughout most of the UK in a sheltered position, though young plants benefit from protection during prolonged periods of hard frost.
Watering: Water regularly during establishment and prolonged dry spells. Use collected rainwater where tap water is hard or alkaline, as camellias are sensitive to lime and high pH levels.
Feeding: Apply a specialist ericaceous fertiliser in spring and again in early summer to support healthy growth and encourage a generous flowering display the following season.
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