🔥 Gene’s Autumn Fire Camellia (Camellia azalea × Camellia japonica ‘Royal Velvet’) – 1 Gallon

The Gene’s Autumn Fire Camellia is a remarkable hybrid camellia, admired for its brilliant orange-red, single blooms that brighten the garden from early to late season. Each flower glows with five broad petals, encircling golden-yellow anthers and pink filaments—a fiery display that truly lives up to its name. With its strong, upright growth and glossy evergreen foliage, this camellia offers both rarity and beauty, making it a centerpiece for collectors and Southern gardens alike.

✨ History & Registration

• Origin & Breeder: Developed by Gene Phillips of Gene’s Nursery, Savannah, Georgia, USA

• Parentage: A chance seedling of Camellia azalea × Camellia japonica ‘Royal Velvet’

• First Bloomed: 2013 (as an 11-year-old seedling)

• Registered: 2023 with the American Camellia Society

• ACS Registration #: 3348

• Publication: American Camellia Yearbook, 2023, p.90

This makes Gene’s Autumn Fire a newly recognized cultivar, adding an exciting chapter to Georgia’s rich camellia heritage.

🌺 Bloom & Flower Form

• Type: Hybrid (C. azalea × C. japonica)

• Flower: Large, single form with 5 petals; bright orange-red with yellow anthers and pink filaments

• Size: About 11.4 cm (4.5 inches) across

• Bloom Time: Early to late season (long flowering window)

• Meaning: Represents passion, energy, and enduring beauty

🌿 Growth Habit

• Mature Size: Typically 8–10 ft tall × 6–8 ft wide when mature

• Habit: Upright, dense, and vigorous growth rate

• Foliage: Dark green leaves, about 12.7 cm long × 6.4 cm wide, adding lush structure year-round

🌱 Care Instructions

• Light: Best in partial shade or filtered sunlight; morning sun with afternoon protection is ideal

• Soil: Acidic, organic-rich, well-drained soil

• Watering: Keep soil evenly moist; mulch well to conserve moisture and protect roots

• Fertilizer: Use a specialized camellia/azalea fertilizer in spring after bloom and again midsummer; avoid late-season feeding

• Pruning: Prune right after flowering to shape; avoid pruning later in the year to protect next season’s buds

🌼 Complimentary Plant Pairings

• Sasanqua Camellias for earlier autumn color

• Azaleas for layered spring displays

• Gardenias for fragrance and glossy foliage contrast

• Hydrangeas for bold summer blooms

• Ferns & Hostas for shaded garden texture

🌟 Why Gene’s Autumn Fire is Important

Gene’s Autumn Fire is not just another camellia—it’s an ACS-registered hybrid (Reg. #3348) and a testament to the dedication of Gene Phillips of Savannah, GA. Combining the vigor of Camellia japonica with the exotic heritage of Camellia azalea, it delivers brilliant blooms, long flowering windows, and vigorous growth. Its recent registration in 2023 marks it as an important addition to the camellia world, bridging tradition with innovation.

🪴 Gene’s Autumn Fire Camellia (1 Gallon) – A fiery, newly registered hybrid camellia that brings bold color, heritage, and Southern charm to your garden.

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