Illustrated botanical study Camellia, variety with White Flowers by Pierre-Joseph Redouté

Camellia (Var) (White Flowers) Camellia Japonica is an engraving that highlights the variety and beauty of this shrub's white flowers. Pierre-Joseph Redouté, the famous 18th-century botanical illustrator, demonstrates his expertise in depicting the different shades and shapes of the flowers.

In the publication dated 1827 from which the plate is taken, the detail of this illustration is given as follows:
(Camellia japonica L.) in its variety CAMELLIA (VAR). WHITE FLOWERS. CAMELLIA JAPONICA This elegant, evergreen shrub is native to Japan. It is the type of a small family of plants called Camelliae. Its flowers, naturally simple and a beautiful crimson red, are sometimes white and variegated. The white varieties are highly valued. Growers now distinguish a considerable number, among which we will mention: the Pinck Camellia with double flowers, a soft pink, with more rounded and less toothed leaves; the Pompon Camellia, whose outer petals are white, flat, those in the center rolled into cones and red at the base; the Peony Camellia, which has its petals as in the previous variety, but of a beautiful pink; the Anemone-flowered Camellia, with red flowers, whose outer petals are very large and flat, those in the center very small and rolled into cones. Camellias are orangery shrubs, which require the same care as orange trees and which are propagated by seeds or by layering.