''Camellia'' × ''williamsii'' is a
cultivar group of
hybrid
Hybrid may refer to:
Science
* Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding
** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species
** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two dif ...
evergreen shrubs that are derived from a crossing of ''
Camellia saluenensis'' with ''
Camellia japonica
''Camellia japonica'', known as common camellia, or Japanese camellia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Theaceae. There are thousands of cultivars of ''C. japonica'' in cultivation, with many colors and forms of flowers. In the U.S. ...
''.
It was originally bred in 1923 at
Caerhays Castle
Caerhays Castle or Carhayes Castle (translation of ''caerhays'' into English: "enclosed castle") is a semi-castellated country house built in 1808, south of the village centre, St Michael Caerhays, Cornwall, England. It overlooks Porthluney Cove ...
in
Cornwall
Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. Cornwall is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic ...
by
John Charles Williams
John Charles Williams (30 April 1861 – 29 March 1939) was an English Liberal Unionist politician and a noted gardener at Caerhays Castle, Cornwall, where he grew and bred rhododendrons and other plants. An important group of camellia cultivars, ...
.
Cultivars
Williamsii cross camellias are hardier than most, and will grow outside anywhere in the UK. Some varieties are known to perform better in colder climates than in warmer ones. 'E.G. Waterhouse', for instance, grows better in Melbourne than it does in Sydney, where it was bred. Hybrid vigour has made the group unusually