At this time of the year, if you spot a glorious rose bush in full flower, the chances are you’re looking at a Camellia japonica. I have a particular weakness for variegated camellias, so it’s not surprising that this one caught my eye.
Camellia japonica ‘Marchioness of Salisbury’ has deep red flowers, liberally marbled with white, making each flower unique. The double flower shape is very attractive, with flat outer petals circling a button made up of shorter, wavier petals. I’ve noticed the form variously called irregular, anemone, peony and elegans. They all work for me!
The foliage is green and glossy. This is a venerable cultivar, believed to date back at least to the days of the Reverend John Grimke Drayton at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens in Charleston, South Carolina. No longer widely available, you’re most likely to discover a magnificent specimen in flower during a winter visit to a botanic garden.
These pictures were taken at The Huntington Gardens.
Susan Rushton 
What a beauty 🙂
A belle of the ball, isn’t she?
Yes 🙂
Absolutely stunning! I shall certainly look out for it here in Australian catalogues!
It may be hard to find, but good luck!
I get very mixed up between roses and camellias! I think camellias are actually prettier, in fact. Love the photos, Susan 🙂
I sometimes have the same problem with some types of roses and peonies. The flowers can be similar but the leaves are a giveaway.
I’ll remember that! 🙂
Divine .. I have never seen a variegated camellia before 😄
I don’t think I’ve ever seen one quite as dark as this one and I always look out for them.
Abdolutely yummy. Good enough to eat, it looks like raspberries and cream.
I love to see the blooms spread like a carpet under a camellia tree too – providing they keep some of their colour.
Reminds me of a peony.
I’d love to see a tree peony in these colours – I’ve seen so few of them in real life.
They were the flowers we always used for cemetery bouquets for Decoration day.