Press Release from Taoyuan District Agricultural Research and Extension  Station, Ministry of Agriculture

Unexpected Blooming Season - New Cultivar of Camellia Blooms in Summer and Autumn

December 26, 2023

　　Camellia, a popular ornamental woody flower, typically blooms in winter, limiting its flowering and sales season. To enhance the application of camellias and extend the viewing season, Taoyuan District Agricultural Research and Extension Station (hereinafter TYDARES) has selected new varieties of camellias with different flowering periods, strong growth, and excellent ornamental qualities. The new cultivar, 'Taoyuan No. 1 - Crimson Summer,' begins blooming in July and reaches its peak from September to November. It is characterized by strong growth, an upright habit, semi-double red flowers, and ease of propagation by cuttings. Suitable for planting in flat areas of Taiwan as potted plants or hedges, this cultivar represents a significant breakthrough in expanding the sales season and increasing the diverse applications of the camellia industry. This cultivar has obtained domestic plant cultivar rights (cultivar right number A02914) in 2023 and has completed cultivar licensing, with market availability expected in the second half of 2024.

　　TYDARES stated that camellias come in a rich cultivar of species, with around 2,000 commercially traded cultivars, earning them the nickname "Lady of a Thousand Faces." The main production areas are in the north (Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli) with Nantou region following, covering an area of about 30 hectares. The primary application is for landscape nursery trees, followed by potted plants, and then grafted garden trees and sculpted bonsais. Camellias are closely related to urban imagery and local development and carry auspicious meanings of wealth and prosperity, making them beloved by the public. The demand for camellia cultivars is primarily for robust and rapid growth, with novel flower shapes, colors, leaf shapes, and cultivation characteristics like different flowering periods and heat tolerance adding charm and encouraging consumer purchase desire and industry growth. Based on industry needs, TYDARES used 'Yimei Dai,' a medium-sized flower with an upright habit, rose flower shape, and deep red semi-double petals as the female parent, and a summer-blooming, robust-growing red rhododendron as the male parent for crossbreeding. After selecting excellent individuals, conducting two years of cultivar trials and trait verification, the new camellia cultivar 'Taoyuan No. 1 - Crimson Summer' was named and registered, becoming the first camellia cultivar in the country to obtain plant cultivar rights.

　　TYDARES pointed out that the camellia 'Taoyuan No. 1 - Crimson Summer' has an upright habit and strong growth, suitable for full to partial sunlight. Its unique flowering period is mainly from September to November, with good ornamental flower quality, presenting as a red lotus-shaped semi-double petal cultivar, making it a good choice for producers and consumers alike. 'Taoyuan No. 1 - Crimson Summer' is robust, suitable for outdoor hedge or shrub cultivation, and due to its good flowering characteristics and upright habit, it is suitable for potted ornamental use through pruning. The cultivar has been licensed to camellia producers in Hsinchu City to meet market demand, and efforts are being made to accelerate the propagation of the cultivar. TYDARES hopes that the introduction of this new cultivar will benefit the domestic camellia industry in terms of diverse applications, supply of camellias in different production seasons, and industry development.

Contact Information:

Spokesperson and Deputy Director: Yang-Jen Fu, Tel: 03-4768216 ext. 101, Mobile: 0919872010

Crop Improvement Section, Assistant Researcher: Ya-Ting Hsu, Tel: 03-4768216 ext. 231

Agricultural Extension Section: Associate Researcher Shing-Jong Lay, Tel: 03-4768216 ext. 410

Fig. 1. Camellia 'Taoyuan No.1-Crimson Summer' flower appearance.

Fig. 2. The potted plant form of Camellia 'Taoyuan No.1-Crimson Summer.'

Fig. 3. Leaf characteristics of Camellia 'Taoyuan No.1-Crimson Summer.'

Fig. 4. Blooming of the potted Camellia 'Taoyuan No.1-Crimson Summer.'