🌸 Georgia Fire Camellia (Camellia japonica) – 1 Gallon

The Georgia Fire Camellia is a bold, fiery jewel in the camellia world, beloved for its dark red, rose-form double flowers and vigorous upright growth. A true Southern heirloom, this variety offers dependable mid-to-late season blooms, glossy evergreen foliage, and a striking garden presence that commands attention year after year.

✨ History & Importance

Registered as Reg. No. 2779 in the American Camellia Society Journal (Dec. 2009, p.29), the Georgia Fire was originated by E. Hulyn Smith of Valdosta, GA, and propagated by Smith and Loch Laurel Nursery. This special variety is a 14-year-old seedling of ‘Edna Campbell’, with the pollen parent unknown, first flowering in 2000.

Featured in the American Camellia Yearbook, 2009 (p.111 with color photo), it quickly earned its place as an important camellia for the South—valued for its vigor, cold-hardiness, and striking floral display.

🌺 Bloom & Flower Form

• Type: Camellia japonica

• Bloom Time: Mid-season to late (winter through early spring)

• Flowers: Medium size, about 9 cm wide x 5 cm deep, dark red rose-form double, with petal edges even darker for added drama

• Details: Yellow anthers and filaments provide a glowing contrast at the flower’s heart, making each bloom appear lit from within.

Meaning: Like all camellias, Georgia Fire symbolizes admiration, love, and strength—but with its fiery red blooms, it especially represents passion, courage, and vitality.

🌿 Growth Habit & Care

• Habit: Vigorous, upright growth with dense branching

• Foliage: Dark green, leathery leaves, averaging 9 cm long by 5 cm wide

• Mature Size: Reaches 8–10 feet tall and 6–8 feet wide when mature

Care Instructions

• Light: Thrives in partial shade to filtered sunlight (protect from harsh afternoon sun)

• Soil: Acidic, rich, well-draining soil with organic matter

• Water: Keep evenly moist; mulch generously to protect shallow roots

• Pruning: Prune immediately after flowering to shape and encourage new growth; avoid late-season pruning, which can remove next year’s buds

• Fertilizer: Feed with an acid-loving camellia/azalea fertilizer in spring after bloom and again midsummer; avoid late-season feeding

🌼 Complimentary Plant Pairings

• Azaleas → for a layered Southern garden show

• Gardenias → fragrance + glossy foliage contrast

• Hydrangeas → summer color to complement camellia’s winter blooms

• Shade-loving ferns & hostas → add soft, textured greenery at its base

🔥 Why It’s an Important Camellia

The Georgia Fire is more than just a camellia—it’s a registered Southern legacy. With its bold red blooms, strong growth, and late-winter performance, it fills the garden with color when it’s needed most. As a recognized American Camellia Society cultivar from Valdosta, GA, it holds a special place in Southern horticultural history and remains a must-have variety for collectors, landscapers, and camellia lovers.

🪴 Georgia Fire Camellia (Camellia japonica) – 1 Gallon
Plant a piece of Georgia camellia heritage in your garden—celebrated for its beauty, history, and fiery elegance.