Camellia granthamiana, Grantham's camellia, large single white fried-egg bloom with golden stamens
Camellia granthamiana in bloom, enormous white flowers on a glossy evergreen tree
Camellia granthamiana, Grantham's camellia flower and deep-veined leathery foliage
Camellia granthamiana, Grantham's camellia, large single white fried-egg bloom with golden stamens
Camellia granthamiana in bloom, enormous white flowers on a glossy evergreen tree
Camellia granthamiana, Grantham's camellia flower and deep-veined leathery foliage
Very Rare

Grantham's Camellia

Camellia granthamiana

$46.00 Sold out
1 Gallon USDA Zones 8–10 Part Shade Matures 10–20 Feet

The fried-egg camellia, Camellia granthamiana opens enormous single white blooms around a broad boss of golden stamens, a rare, conservation-listed tree first found wild in Hong Kong.

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Roots wrapped in moist soil and padded for safe transit
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The Full Story

High in the shaded ravines of Hong Kong's Tai Mo Shan, a single camellia tree stood unrecognized until 1955, when the Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department documented an unexpected beauty among the undergrowth. The botanist J. R. Sealy soon described a new species and named the tree Camellia granthamiana, honoring the then-Governor Sir Alexander Grantham.

For years that lone specimen stood as the only known plant of the kind. A few more populations have since turned up on Hong Kong's Ma On Shan and across parts of Guangdong, yet the species remains genuinely rare, a whisper of hope in a landscape worn thin by time.

Grantham's camellia is as distinctive as the story. The tree carries enormous single white blooms, up to four or five inches across, each built around a broad cluster of golden stamens that gives the famous fried-egg effect. Leathery, dark green leaves with deeply impressed veins set off the flowers, which open in late autumn and early winter to bridge the seasons with a serene, almost ceremonial presence.

Rarity has made the species a conservation priority. Grantham's camellia is protected under Hong Kong's Forestry Regulations and listed in national and international conservation registers, and in 2024 the Hong Kong Biodiversity Genomics Consortium published a chromosome-scale genome of the plant, a foundation for genetic conservation and a deeper understanding of where this camellia sits within the genus. More than an ornamental, Grantham's camellia is a living monument carried from a remote ravine to the garden, with striking blooms and a fragile botanical history worth stewarding.

Photos courtesy of James Garnett.
Will this plant thrive in your zone?

Plant Profile
At a glance
Hardiness
USDA Zones 8–10
Sun
Part Shade
Soil
Well-drained, Acid
Mature size
Height 10–20 Feet · Spread 10–20 Feet
Growth rate
Fast
Seasonality
Evergreen
Design Notes

Grant Grantham's camellia a warm, sheltered, part-shaded spot in zones 8 to 10 where the enormous fried-egg flowers can be met at close range, by a courtyard, an entry, or the center of a collector's bed. The glossy, deep-veined foliage holds the year, and the early-winter bloom arrives when little else in the garden is awake; pair with ferns, hellebores, and other shade companions, and shelter from hard freezes and cold wind. To grow this tree is also to take a small part in conserving one of the rarest camellias in the world.

Flower, Fruit & Foliage

Flower. Enormous, solitary, and white, four to five inches across and often larger in cultivation, each bloom built around a broad cluster of golden stamens for the celebrated fried-egg effect. Borne at the tips of short shoots and cradled in a many-scaled persistent involucre, the flowers open in late autumn and early winter, though the literature varies and some growers report bloom stretching toward early spring.

Foliage. Leathery, oblong-elliptic, dark green leaves, glossy and up to four inches long, with deeply impressed veins and a finely toothed margin, a quietly refined backdrop the year round.

Care

Read our full care guide

Light. Partial shade to dappled sun; shelter from harsh afternoon sun, which can scorch the leaves in warm regions.

Soil. Rich, well-drained, acidic soil enriched with organic matter and kept mulched to hold moisture and cool the roots.

Water. Steady moisture through the growing season, deep but never waterlogged; ease off in winter.

Pruning. Little needed; shape lightly after flowering and remove any dead or crossing wood to open the canopy.

Hardiness. Best in USDA Zones 8 to 10; shelter from hard frost and cold wind at the northern edge of the range.

Here’s a closer look at how we produce our plants

From rooting to shipping, our top priority is ensuring you receive healthy, thriving plants for your garden’s success.

Woodlanders Growing Process

Because most of our plants are grown from rooted cuttings — alongside seed, air layering, and grafting chosen for each variety — you receive a stronger, true-to-type plant that establishes quickly in your garden.

Sustainable Growing Practices

Raised on organic soil blends and eco-friendly pest management — never harsh chemicals — your plant arrives healthy for your garden, your family, and the pollinators they feed.

Supporting Local Biodiversity

Every purchase gives back. We donate to the Aiken Arboretum and support local wildlife conservation, so growing your garden helps protect the wider ecosystem too.

At Woodlanders, we are committed to quality.
Grown in Aiken, South Carolina
At Woodlanders, we are committed to quality.

All our plant material is carefully propagated, grown, and nurtured at our humble nursery in Aiken, South Carolina.

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Healthy plants, ready to thrive
Success, made simple
Healthy plants, ready to thrive

Your plant arrives carefully packed and ready to settle in. Unpack them promptly, give them a day or two to acclimate, then plant following the notes we include — that’s all it takes. Clear care guidance comes with every order, so success is the easy part.

Read the care guide
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Frequently Asked Questions
What to expect upon delivery

All our plants are sold in 1-gallon sizes, though the height of each plant can vary depending on its growth rate and seasonality, typically ranging from 1/2 to 2.5 feet.

Each plant is carefully packaged with its roots enclosed in a secure plastic bag containing moist soil, forming a compact root ball. To ensure safe transport, the box is padded with recycled newspaper, providing both stability and eco-friendly protection from weather during shipping.
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