Bernice Body
A foundational parent of modern cold-hardy camellia breeding and recipient of the 1993 RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Developed by Jones at Rancho del Descanso in Sierra Madre, California, and named for Mrs. Manchester Boddy, wife of the Los Angeles Daily News publisher, this cultivar secured U.S. Plant Patent No. 605 in 1953. The light pink semi-double flowers show sophisticated color gradation with deeper pink on petal undersides and delicate white filaments. Most significantly, it became a key parent in cold-hardy breeding programs — particularly the April series of hybrids — making it foundational to modern camellia genetics. The Royal Horticultural Society recognized its garden value with an Award of Garden Merit in 1993. Source: RHS and International Camellia Register.