(C.japonica), Jacob-Makoy, 1830 Catalogue, p.6. No description. Chandler & Booth, 1831,

Illustrations and Descriptions of the plants which compose the Natural order of Camellieae...,

p.26, pl.26: Originated from the seed of the ‘Warratah’ (Anemoniflora), planted by Alfred

Chandler of Vauxhall, England in 1823 and described in the above publication as being “of a

very delicate rose and measuring from three and a half to four inches (8.5-10 cm) in

diameter”. Elegans is HCC. Rose Opal 022 in colour with slightly darker venation. It is an

anemone form and can grow up to 12.5 cm across. The plant is spreading, loosely branched,

open and vigorous. Its foliage is deep green, glossy, flat, broadly elliptic; apex

shortacuminate, decurved, margins shallowly serrate, averaging 11 cm long x 6.5 cm wide.

Early in its history, to separate it from another, much inferior cultivar, also called ‘Elegans’

by Baumann & Baumann, the word ‘Chandleri’ or ‘Chandlers’ was sometimes attached to it.

This, unfortunately, has caused more confusion than it has saved as it has involved another of

Chandler’s seedlings named Chandleri. Many synonyms and orthographic variants have been

applied to it, some of which are as follows: ‘Elegans (Chandler)’, ‘Elegans Chandleri’,

‘Elegant’, ‘Chandleri Rosea’, ‘Rosea Chandler’, ‘Chandleri Pink’, ‘Chandleri Elegans Pink’,

‘Chandlers Elegans’, ‘Pink Elegans’, ‘Pink Chandleri Elegans’, ‘Elegans (Chandler) Pink’,

‘Elegans Loudonensis’, ‘Chandleri Pulcherrima’, ‘Pulcherrima’, ‘Francine’, ‘Pink Francine’,

‘Gloria Angliae’, ‘Crewii’, ‘Lord Crew’, ‘Veigans’, ‘Rollini Vera’, ‘Mr Chandler’s Elegant

Camellia’, ‘Elegans de Chandler’, ‘Chandler Elegans Rose Red’. Orthographic errors include:

‘Chandlery Elegans’, ‘Chanderleri Elegans’, ‘Chandelerri Elegans’, ‘Roulini’, ‘Rollenii’,

‘Bollenii’. Chinese synonyms: ‘Yazhi’, (Elegant) and ‘Meihong Manao’. A whole family of

mutations have arisen from this cultivar. They include: Elegans Variegated, Barbara

Woodroof, C.M. Wilson, Elegans Miniata, Theo’s Mini, Elegans Supreme. These have

produced a second generation of mutations which include: Hawaii, Kona, Shiro Chan, Snow

Chan, Elegans Splendor, Elegans Champagne and Maui. For colour illustrations see:

p.113, Fairweather, 1979, Rhododendrons and Azaleas; p.83, Macoboy, 1981, The Colour

Dictionary of Camellias and Fendig, 1949, American Camellia Catalogue. In 1981 it received

“The National Hall of Fame Award” from the ACS and the RHS., in 1958, awarded it a First

Class Certificate. Colour photo, Hillebrand & Bertolazzi, Antiche Camelie del Lago

Maggiore, 2003, p.166, shows a virus variegated flower, which is Elegans Variegated.