Editing Camellia (section)

===Modern cultivars===
The tea camellia, ''C. sinensis'', has been selected by [[Camellia sinensis#Cultivars|many commercial cultivars]] for the taste of its leaves once processed into tea leaves.

Today, camellias are grown as ornamental plants for their flowers; about 3,000 [[cultivar]]s and [[Hybrid plant|hybrids]] have been selected, many with [[double flower|double]] or semi-double flowers. ''C. japonica'' is the most prominent species in cultivation, with over 2,000 named cultivars. Next are ''C. reticulata'' with over 400 named cultivars, and ''C. sasanqua'' with over 300 named cultivars. Popular hybrids include ''[[Camellia × hiemalis|C. × hiemalis]]'' (''C. japonica'' × ''C. sasanqua'') and ''[[Camellia × williamsii|C. × williamsii]]'' (''C. japonica'' × ''[[Camellia saluenensis|C. saluenensis]]''). Some varieties can grow considerably, up to {{val|100|ul=m²}}, though more compact cultivars are available. They are frequently planted in woodland settings alongside other [[calcifuges]], such as [[rhododendrons]]. They are particularly associated with areas of high soil acidity, such as Cornwall and Devon in the UK. They are highly valued for their very early flowering, often among the first flowers to appear in the late winter. Late [[frost]]s can damage the flower buds, resulting in misshapen flowers.<ref>{{cite book|title=RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants|year=2008|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=United Kingdom|isbn=978-1405332965|page=1136}}</ref>

There is a great variety of flower forms:

* single (flat, bowl- or cup-shaped)
* semi-double (rows of large outer petals, with the centre comprising mixed petals and stamens)
* double:
** paeony form (convex mass of irregular petals and petaloids with hidden stamens)
** anemone form (one or more rows of outer petals, with mixed petaloids and stamens in the centre)
** rose form (overlapping petals showing stamens in a concave centre when open)
** formal double (rows of overlapping petals with hidden stamens)

====AGM cultivars====
{{Main|List of Award of Garden Merit camellias}}
The following hybrid cultivars have gained the [[Royal Horticultural Society]]'s [[Award of Garden Merit]]:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Name !! Parentage !! Height !! Spread !! Flower colour !! Flower type !! Ref.
|-
| Cornish Snow || ''cuspidata'' × ''saluenensis'' || 2.5 || 1.5 || white || single || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/93350/Camellia-Cornish-Snow-(cuspidata-%25C3%2597-saluenensis)/Details |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426014914/https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/93350/camellia-cornish-snow-(cuspidata-%C3%97-saluenensis)/details |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 26, 2023 |title=RHS Plant Selector Camellia 'Cornish Snow' (cuspidata × saluenensis) AGM / RHS Gardening |publisher=Apps.rhs.org.uk |access-date=2020-04-17 }}</ref> 
|-
| Cornish Spring || ''cuspidata'' × ''japonica'' || 2.5 || 1.5 || pink || single || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/68764/Camellia-Cornish-Spring-(cuspidata-×-japonica)/Details |title=RHS Plant Selector Camellia 'Cornish Spring' (cuspidata × japonica) AGM / RHS Gardening |publisher=Apps.rhs.org.uk |access-date=2020-04-17}}</ref>
|-
| Francie L || || 8.0 || 8.0 || rose-pink || double || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/67935/Camellia-Francie-L/Details |title=RHS Plant Selector Camellia 'Francie L' AGM / RHS Gardening |publisher=Apps.rhs.org.uk |access-date=2020-04-17}}</ref>
|-
| Freedom Bell || × ''williamsii'' || 2.5 || 2.5 || red || semi-double || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/89783/Camellia-Freedom-Bell/Details |title=RHS Plant Selector Camellia 'Freedom Bell' AGM / RHS Gardening |publisher=Apps.rhs.org.uk |access-date=2020-04-17}}</ref> 
|-
| Inspiration || ''reticulata'' × ''saluenensis'' || 4.0 || 2.5 || rose-pink || semi-double || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/50008/Camellia-Inspiration-(reticulata-%25C3%2597-saluenensis)/Details |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426014236/https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/50008/camellia-inspiration-(reticulata-%C3%97-saluenensis)/details |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 26, 2023 |title=RHS Plant Selector Camellia 'Inspiration' (reticulata × saluenensis) AGM / RHS Gardening |publisher=Apps.rhs.org.uk |access-date=2020-04-17 }}</ref> 
|-
| Leonard Messel || ''reticulata'' × × ''williamsii'' || 4.0 || 4.0 || rose-pink || semi-double || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/49261/Camellia-Leonard-Messel-(reticulata-%25C3%2597-(%25C3%2597-williamsii))/Details |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426014201/https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/49261/camellia-leonard-messel-(reticulata-%C3%97-(%C3%97-williamsii))/details |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 26, 2023 |title=RHS Plant Selector Camellia 'Leonard Messel' (reticulata × williamsii) AGM / RHS Gardening |publisher=Apps.rhs.org.uk |access-date=2020-04-17 }}</ref> 
|-
| Royalty || ''japonica'' × ''reticulata'' || 1.0 || 1.0 || light red || semi-double || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/65680/Camellia-Royalty-(japonica-%25C3%2597-reticulata)/Details |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426070734/https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/65680/camellia-royalty-(japonica-%C3%97-reticulata)/details |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 26, 2023 |title=RHS Plant Selector Camellia 'Royalty' (japonica × reticulata) AGM / RHS Gardening |publisher=Apps.rhs.org.uk |access-date=2020-04-17 }}</ref> 
|-
| Spring Festival || × ''williamsii'', ''cuspidata'' || 4.0 || 2.5 || pink || semi-double || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/92881/Camellia-Spring-Festival-(cuspidata-hybrid)/Details |title=RHS Plant Selector Camellia 'Spring Festival' (cuspidata hybrid) AGM / RHS Gardening |publisher=Apps.rhs.org.uk |access-date=2013-04-29}}</ref>
|-
| Tom Knudsen || ''japonica'' × ''reticulata'' || 2.5 || 2.5 || deep red || double paeony || <ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/67050/Camellia-Tom-Knudsen-(japonica-%25C3%2597-reticulata)/Details |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426113619/https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/67050/camellia-tom-knudsen-(japonica-%C3%97-reticulata)/details |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 26, 2023 |title=RHS Plant Selector Camellia 'Tom Knudsen' (japonica × reticulata) AGM / RHS Gardening |publisher=Apps.rhs.org.uk |access-date=2020-04-17 }}</ref> 
|-
| Tristrem Carlyon || ''reticulata'' || 4.0 || 2.5 || rose pink || double paeony || <ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/70663/Camellia-Tristrem-Carlyon-(reticulata-hybrid)/Details
| title = ''Camellia'' 'Tristrem Carlyon' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 12 April 2020}}</ref> 
|}
<gallery>
File:Camellia x williamsii 'Brigadoon'.JPG|Simple-flowered ''Camellia × williamsii'' cv. 'Brigadoon'
File:Semi-double Camelia cultivar.jpg|Semi-double-flowered camellia cultivar
File:PinkCamelliaJaponica.jpg|Double-flowered camellia cultivar
File:Camellia hyb Yuri s Yellow Kalenderkopie.jpg|Double-flowered hybrid cv. 'Jury's Yellow'
</gallery>