1 / 4Key characteristics
- Family
- Theaceae
- Height
- 6 to 8 feet
- Width
- 4 to 6 feet
- Flower color
- Creamy white-yellow
- Foliage color
- Dark green, glossy
- Bloom time
- Late winter to early spring
- Light
- Partial shade to full sun
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low; prune after flowering to shape
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 7 to 9
- Wildlife
- Attracts bees and other pollinators
Shrubs
Camellia x williamsii ‘Buttermint’
Buttermint Camellia
Camellia x williamsii 'Buttermint' produces abundant, fully double flowers from midwinter into spring, opening creamy white to pale buttery yellow with warmer yellow tones toward the center. Small, glossy dark green leaves form dense evergreen foliage that provides a polished backdrop for the softly colored blooms. The miniature flowers have neatly layered petals and a lightly fragrant character, creating a delicate display along the branches for several months.
Works well in
- Foundation Plantings
- Specimen Plants
- Woodland Gardens
- Shade Gardens
Companion plants
Skimmia · Japanese forest grass · Epimedium · Pieris · Trillium · Foamflower
Design tip
Creamy yellow flowers offer a softer alternative to the pinks and reds common among camellias, opening up interesting color combinations. Pair their gentle warmth with chartreuse, silver, or deep green foliage to create a sophisticated palette that brightens the late-winter garden without feeling stark.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
More shrubs
Rhododendron x kosteranum 'Northern Hi-Lights'
Northern Hi-Lights Azalea
Blooms creamy white to yellow flowers with a bold golden-yellow blotch in the throat
Full sun to part shade
Rhododendron 'Cunningham's White'
Cunningham's White Rhododendron
Blooms white flowers; may have a yellow-green or light blotch/marking in the throat
Partial shade to filtered sun
Rhododendron 'Ice Music'
Ice Music Rhododendron
Blooms pink buds open to creamy white blossoms with yellow flares and red speckles/nectaries in the throat
Part shade to dappled shade
Tasmannia lanceolata
Mountain Pepper
Blooms small creamy white to pale yellow flowers with a soft clustered appearance
Partial shade to full sun in cooler climates