Camellia japonica ‘Fortuita’
A cultivar of Camellia japonica L. In 1841 Chandler’s Nursery in London sold Camellia ‘Fortuita’, described as a delicate white, fringed with pink, with round petals, almost certainly Herbert’s plant. [Gard. Chron. 1841].
Horticultural & Botanical History
Bred by William Herbert before 1837 and first described in the supplement to his Amaryllidaceae. ‘The finest double varieties of Camellia Japonica which I have raised are as follows: From the single white by the pollen of Pompone, 1. var. Spofforthiae, or Spofforth striped, very large and very double white, with a few pink stripes, and occasionally one or two anthers. 2. v. Maculosa, or Calypso, do. 3. v. Haylocki, or Haylock’s white; pure white, rarely a few anthers. 4. v. Eburnea, or Ebur; very vigorous, pure white; somewhat waratah shaped. 5. v. Nivosa, or Nitor; double white, variable in form. 6. v. Fortuita, or Fortuna; very like var. 1. 7. v. lactescens, or Luna; double white.’ [Herbert p.367].
History at Camden Park
Listed in the 1850 and 1857 catalogues [T225/1850]. ‘Fortuna’ is clearly marked with an ‘H’, denoting Herbert, in William Macarthur’s hand in a copy of the 1850 catalogue held at Camden Park. Possibly obtained from Loddiges’ Nursery. Macarthur wrote on 6th Janury 1845: ‘I am very desirous to have the best of Mr. Herbert’s varieties.’ [MP A2933-2, p.28].
Notes
‘Fortuna’ should not be confused with C. Fortuni, ‘a new Camellia from China, discovered and sent home by Mr. Fortune. It is a carnation striped kind, very different however from any we have hitherto possessed insomuch as the stripes, rosy pink, are much more brilliant’. [GC 1856].
Published Jun 22, 2009 - 03:14 PM | Last updated Aug 11, 2011 - 04:32 PM
| Family | Theaceae |
|---|---|
| Category | |
| Region of origin | Garden origin, England |
| Synonyms |
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| Common Name | |
| Name in the Camden Park Record |
Camellia japonica ‘Fortuna’ |
| Confidence level | high |