Amy Hunt

Australia Regn # 689. Published on p.13 in Camellia News No. 199, the Journal of Camellias Australia Inc. 2015 with description and a colour photo. A seedling from a controlled cross performed mid 1990s by John Hunt, Boronia, Victoria, Australia. Definite records relating to this cross have not been found, but it is possibly C.reticulata 'Dataohong' ('Crimson Robe') x C. reticulata hybrid 'Dick Goodson'. Applicant is Camellias lllawarra Inc which has members who have been growing this cultivar for many years. The soft pink (RHS 65C) bloom begins as formal double, opening to informal or irregular semi-double. A typical bloom is about 16 cm diameter and 5 cm high, with 35 notched and wavy petals, few stamens with cream filaments. The bloom falls whole and seed pods have never been produced. Free flowering, from mid-season to late. The plant has medium, spreading growth; glossy, dark green, keeled leaves, ovate in shape and bluntly tipped, with almost no serration, about 10 cm long and 6.5 cm wide with a petiole about 1 cm long. The cultivar was named for John's granddaughter, Tony Hunt's daughter, now Amy Helmore, who sought perfection in any bloom to be named in her honour. Note: The Journal of the Atlantic Coast Camellia Society, Summer 2000, P8, in an article written by John Hunt, refers to this cross: "a seedling of mine, 'Crimson Robe' x 'Dick Goodson' has bloomed for several years; the pink formal double flowers are superb", winning prizes in 1998 and 1999.