Helen Beach
A Japanese japonica with purplish-scarlet petals that transition to closely veined white edges — a striking bicolor single.
A sport of 'Nihon-no-homare,' registered in 1974 and extensively documented in Japanese camellia literature from Andoh's 1974 Tsubaki Nyūmon through Yokoyama and Kirino's 1989 Nihon no Chinka. The medium single flowers display a remarkable color gradient — purplish scarlet at the petal base (haft) transitioning to closely veined patterning with definite white edges. The flat petals show some fluting at the apex, surrounding a compact cylindrical stamen column with golden anthers and creamy filaments. Listed locally as 'Helen Beach.' Source: International Camellia Register.