Camellia japonica ‘Fortuita’

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].