Frank Brownlee Camellia
Camellia japonica ‘Frank Brownlee’
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 7a-9b Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Shrub
Species: Japonica (Winter, Spring blooming)
Height at Maturity: 6-10′ depending on pruning
Width at Maturity: 8-10′ depending on pruning
Spacing: 5-6′ for solid hedges; 12’+ for space between plants
Flower Color: Deep Red
Flower Size: Large, 4-5″
Flowering Period: Early Spring, Mid Spring
Flower Type: Double
Fragrant Flowers: No
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
Attracts: Visual Attention
Resistances: Deer, Drought (when established), Heat, Humidity
Intolerances: Direct Afternoon Sun, Constantly Soggy Soil
Description
We’re not sure what happened over the years and how on earth such a spectacular Camellia was almost lost and consigned to history, but we love the oldies-but-goodies and just couldn’t allow that to happen with the Frank Brownlee Camellia. A now very rare Camellia introduced back in 1959, ‘Frank Brownlee’ sports large smoldering deep red double flowers with very wavy petals that surround yellow stamens. Frank Brownlee is a season extender that usually blooms a bit later than other C. japonica varieties. Flowers begin to appear in early March continuing through April and even May, depending on the weather and your location. The flowers are perfect for cutting and use in indoor flower arrangements or float just one in a bowl of water.
Frank Brownlee was the director of the South Carolina Camellia Society. According to the Camellia Registry, the Frank Brownlee Camellia was a chance seedling that bloomed for the first time in 1959.
Landscape & Garden Uses
Growing 6 to 10 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide, the Frank Browlee Camellia can be grown as a large shrub or small tree. As a shrub it is ideal for use as a specimen, in groupings, or as a 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 lower branches can be removed to form a small evergreen tree that serves well as an attractive and colorful focal point specimen in landscape borders and home foundation plantings. A fine addition to camellia gardens, red theme gardens, Asian gardens, cottage gardens, cut flower gardens and in woodland gardens and borders. Also suitable for containers that can be brought indoors during winter by those who live and garden above USDA Zone 7a, where this camellia variety is not reliably winter hardy. Find Your Zone
Suggested Spacing: 5 to 6 feet apart for 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!
Meet The Wilson Brothers & Staff
Questions? Contact Us
It just opened one of the two buds that came on it. It is breathtaking. Thank you for making it available.



















Reviews
There are no reviews yet.