Camellia japonica 'Cinnamon Cindy'

Cinnamon Cindy Camellia

Botanical Name: Camellia japonica x C. lutchuensis 'Cinnamon Cindy'
Family: Theaceae
Origin: Hybrid (bred by Dr W. Ackerman, USA; parent species native to Japan and China)
Plant Type: Evergreen medium shrub to small tree

Overview

One of the most beloved and fragrant camellias available, Camellia 'Cinnamon Cindy' is a standout performer that combines exquisite beauty with a genuinely unique and spicy sweet fragrance reminiscent of cinnamon. From winter through to spring it produces profuse clusters of small, peony-form white flowers with rose-pink outer petals and pure white petaloids at the centre, each bloom carrying that unmistakable warm, spicy scent that fills the garden on cool mornings.
Vigorous and upright in habit with attractive small, glossy dark green leaves, 'Cinnamon Cindy' is one of the few camellias that truly earns the fragrant label. It thrives in Adelaide's sheltered gardens and cool-side microclimates, performing beautifully as a feature specimen, informal hedge or espalier. A genuinely special camellia for South Australian gardens that have the right conditions to enjoy it.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 1.5–3.0 m H x 1.0–2.0 m W (upright, slender habit; can be maintained smaller with pruning)
• Growth Rate: Slow to moderate; 15–25 cm per year; patient planting rewarded with a long-lived specimen
• Foliage: Small, glossy, dark green oval leaves with finely serrated edges; new growth emerges with attractive reddish tints; dense and evergreen year-round
• Flowers: Small peony-form blooms approximately 5 cm across; white with rose-pink outer petals and pure white petaloids at the centre; produced in profuse clusters; winter through spring (June to October in SA)
• Fragrance: Distinctively and strongly fragrant; warm spicy-sweet cinnamon scent; one of the most fragrant camellias available; fragrance most pronounced on warm winter days
• Seasonal Interest: Dense glossy foliage year-round with reddish new growth in spring; prolific fragrant white and pink flowers from winter through spring; prune and feed after flowering in late spring
• Wildlife Value: Winter flowers provide nectar for bees and pollinators when few other plants are in bloom; dense foliage provides shelter and nesting habitat
• Tolerance: Frost hardy once established; heat sensitive in exposed positions; shelter from hot afternoon sun, cold winds and hard frosts essential; dislikes alkaline soils and waterlogging
• Planting Density: Tight hedge: 1 plant per metre (80 cm–1.0 m spacing); Standard hedge/screen: 1 plant per 1.2–1.5 m; Specimen: 2.0 m apart; suitable for large containers (50 cm+)
• Pet Friendly: Non-toxic to cats and dogs

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Part shade to full shade; morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal; avoid hot western sun in inland Adelaide positions; tolerates dappled light under trees
• Soil: Humus-rich, well-drained acidic to neutral soil essential; incorporate compost and aged manure before planting; avoid Adelaide's alkaline soils unless heavily amended or grow in containers with camellia/azalea potting mix
• Water Needs: Establishment: deep soak 2–3 times/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 7–10 days in summer; fortnightly in spring and autumn; monthly in winter; mulch well to retain moisture and keep roots cool
• Maintenance: Prune lightly after flowering (late spring) to maintain shape and encourage bushy growth; avoid pruning in summer and autumn when buds are forming; feed with camellia/azalea fertiliser in spring after pruning and again in late summer; apply organic mulch annually; monitor for scale insects, aphids and sooty mould
• Lifespan: Very long-lived; decades to generations with correct soil conditions and drainage
• Climate Zones: Best in sheltered Adelaide positions; coastal suburbs, protected courtyard gardens, shaded south and east-facing aspects; suitable for Adelaide Hills in frost-protected positions
• Soil pH: Acidic to neutral (pH 5.0–6.5); sensitive to alkaline soils; test and amend regularly or grow in containers with specialist potting mix

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Fragrance garden centrepiece planted near outdoor seating, pathways or beneath windows where the cinnamon scent can be enjoyed through winter
• Informal hedge or screen for shaded south or east-facing boundaries where other hedging plants struggle to perform
• Espalier against a sheltered south or east-facing fence or wall for a stunning flat winter-flowering feature in a narrow space
• Combine with Daphne, Gardenias and Azaleas for a layered, acid-loving fragrance garden that delivers scent and colour across multiple seasons
• Large container specimen for sheltered patios and courtyards; use camellia/azalea potting mix and feed regularly for best results

Why You Will Love It

'Cinnamon Cindy' is a rare and genuinely special camellia. The spicy-sweet cinnamon fragrance is unlike anything else in the winter garden and the delicate white and rose-pink blooms are produced with impressive generosity through the cooler months. Give it the right sheltered, shaded position with good acidic soil and it will reward you for decades with one of the most memorable fragrances in the garden.