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

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.

Plant Long & Prosper!

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Questions? Contact Us

My 1 gallon camellia arrived extremely well packaged and really healthy. I planted it about a week after it came in and 2 weeks later it is sporting lots of new growth and seems to be doing quite well. If all goes well I will be ordering more next year.—————————————-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

I received two gorgeous, healthy shrubs just days after placing my order. I was so happy to find the particular camellia I was looking for, and honestly, these plants look better than the camellias I saw at my awesome local nursery. That’s saying a lot! Thank you, Wilson Bros!—————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Your camellia Herme arrived today.
It is in perfect condition and looks beautiful and healthy 🙂
Thank you for packaging and shipping with so much care.———————————————Hi Gary & Sonja, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Brilliant Gem Fragrant Camellia Japonica. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for your kind words and great review!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens