Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Camellia 'April Kiss'
April Kiss Camellia
- Family
- Theaceae
- Height
- 6 to 9 ft
- Width
- 4 to 6 ft
- Flower color
- Rose-pink to deep rose double flowers
- Foliage color
- Glossy, deep green evergreen leaves
- Bloom time
- Late winter to early spring (often January through March, depending on climate)
- Light
- Partial shade to part-sun
- Water
- Regular
- Maintenance
- Low to moderate - light pruning if needed (after flowering) to maintain shape
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 6b to 9
- Wildlife
- Flowers can provide early-season nectar or pollen for pollinators
About this plant
Camellia 'April Kiss' is an evergreen shrub with glossy dark green foliage carried on a compact, upright framework. Its formal double flowers are deep rose pink to rosy red, with tightly layered petals that form neat rosettes along the branches. Blooming begins in late winter and continues into mid-spring, often peaking in April, creating a long season of soft color in partially shaded garden settings.
Developed in North Carolina, 'April Kiss' is part of the cold-hardy April Series introduced by Dr. Clifford Parks at Camellia Forest Nursery. A hybrid of 'Berenice Boddy' and 'Reg Ragland,' it is known for reliable bud set, extended bloom, and refined evergreen presence throughout the year.
Works well in
Foundation Plantings · Specimen Plants · Woodland Gardens · Shade Gardens
Companion plants
Holly · Pulmonaria · Oxalis · Japanese aralia · Celandine · Coral bells
Design tip
Late-winter flowers can make a partially shaded garden feel alive well before most spring plants get started. Give this camellia a prominent spot near an entry or favorite window, then surround it with quieter evergreen foliage to keep the rose-pink blooms center stage.
