A Camellia That Blooms in Summer: Plant Development Services Debuts Early Surprise
October 19, 2026 | 3 min to read
Loxley, Alabama – Plant Development Services Inc. is bringing a breakthrough new season of beauty to the camellia category with the introduction of Early Surprise™ Camellia, a unique new hybrid that delivers abundant blooms from late summer through fall.
Unlike current camellia varieties on the market that bloom from late fall through winter, Early Surprise™ and its upcoming sister releases were developed as crosses with Chinese summer-blooming camellias, resulting in a hardy hybrid variety that’s unlike anything widely available to consumers.
“Camellias are a landscape staple in the United States, but their traditional blooming period falls during the colder months of the year when people aren’t spending as much time in their gardens,” says Kip McConnell, Vice President of Business Development at Plant Development Services. “That’s what makes Early Surprise a game-changer. Growers and retailers can now bring summer color to the camellia bench, taking camellias from an evergreen backdrop to a standout of the summer landscape.”
The introduction of Early Surprise™ represents an industry-leading approach to extending the camellia season for Southern Living® Plant Collection. For the first time, consumers can enjoy nearly a full year of bloom succession through the brand’s varieties. With Early Surprise™ now opening the season with summer blooms, it’s followed by the brand’s top-selling October Magic® Camellia series and Early Wonder® Camellia to carry the story through fall, winter and into early spring. From more production windows for growers to repeating selling moments for retailers, this compelling camellia assortment pairs bloom succession with the strength of a trusted brand to create more opportunities to grow, sell and enjoy camellias all year long.
Among its many benefits, Early Surprise™ also demonstrates a vigorous growth rate, a benefit for production and finished plant performance. It produces abundant medium-to-dark pink blooms against dark evergreen foliage and continues flowering until a hard frost. Early Surprise™ matures to 5-6’ high by 3-4’ wide and thrives in USDA Zones 7-9 in full sun to partial shade. The variety’s compact, upright form makes it particularly well-suited as a narrow planting, container, or patio tree, opening additional opportunities for renters and small-space dwellers.
Early Surprise™ is the latest introduction in the “Early” camellia series, with additional colors currently under development. It will be available to the trade in 2027, followed by consumer availability through the Southern Living® and Sunset® Plant Collections in 2028. For more information, please visit plantdevelopment.com/introductions.
About Plant Development Services Inc.
Plant Development Services Inc. was founded in 1996 by Greg Smith of the third-generation, family-owned Flowerwood Nursery, Inc. Plant Development Services owns and/or licenses more than 300 patented plant properties and boasts these top-ranking plant brands: Encore® Azalea, the Southern Living® Plant Collection, the Sunset® Plant Collection, Better Boxwood®, and Butterfly Candy®, as well as the new Groundbreaker® Hydrangea and Living Creations® Hydrangea.