Vinho do Porto

Vinho do Porto (C.japonica), European Reg. No 196. Originated and propagated by Rodrigo Paulo Leitão, at Viveiro das Camélias, Penafiel, Portugal. Seedling of C. japonica ‘Bokuhan' (ICR-1781) by unkown pollen in 2007, first flowering in 2016. Plant: growth habit upright and dense, medium growth rate; blooming in Portugal from November to February. Flower: medium 9 x 5 cm, anemone form, dark red outer petals with compact and upright petaloids (RSH2007 46A), internal petaloids streaked white, reddish stigma, occasionally with few stamens. Floriferous. Blooms fall whole when spent. Leaf: medium 10,5 x 4,5 cm, dark green (RSH2007 139A), keeled, curling distinctly, lanceolate, acuminate apex, serrated; new growth reddish bronze and leaves petioles tinted red. Story: in 2022 the Portuguese Camellia Association and the Institute of Portand Douro Wines promoted a Camellia Competition to create a Camellia 'Vinho do Porto' to celebrate Port Wine. This cultivar was selected by a Jury and a specimen has been planted at the Botanical Garden of the University of Porto (5 March 2023). Colour plate in Fugas, weekend magazine of the newspaper Público (18 March 2023).