If there’s a reason for a gardener to maneuver to the south, it’s the camellia. This shrub , which has been in cultivation for quite 1000 years, is that the Southerner’s answer to the peony. Similarities between peonies and camellias include lushly petaled blooms, and a bent to measure for quite a century.

The genus Camellia , a part of the Theaceae family, includes several common ornamental species and lots of cultivars. C. japonica and C. sasanqua are the species commonest in nurseries and catalogs. you’ll also find hybrids between species, developed by breeders who wish to feature new colors and cold hardiness to the market.

Camellias are evergreen shrubs with dark, glossy leaves. Flowers could also be white, pink, red, or streaked, and blooms are often single or double. tea yields flowers that produce tea, but it’s not as ornamental because the other species.

Camellias represent faithfulness and longevity within the language of flowers, and theys make a lush addition to winter wedding flower arrangements.

How to Grow Camellia Shrubs

Camellias are best planted in rich, moist soil during a part-shade location. If planting multiple camellia shrubs, space them a minimum of 5 feet apart. they are doing not wish to compete for water and nutrients with trees in close proximity. It isn’t necessary to amend the backfill soil at planting time. Rather, lightly cultivate the highest few inches of the soil, raking in compost or well-rotted manure.

Know the mature size of your camellia, and plan accordingly if planting on the brink of a window or home foundation. Plant camellias anytime except within the hottest summer months.

Light

Camellias thrive partially shade. Camellia sasanqua cultivars can take more sun than japonica types.

Soil

Camellias require well-drained soil, and a perfect soil pH for camellias is within the 6.0 to 6.5 range. If your soil is dense clay and doesn’t drain well, consider container culture: choose a minimum of an 18-inch container and an upscale, loamy potting soil.

Water

Water camellias in order that they’re consistently moist. Dry periods that occur during bud development end in fewer flowers with a flower petal count. Drought-stressed plants also open the door to tetranychid infestation. Apply a 3-inch layer of mulch to moderate soil temperatures, retain soil moisture, and stifle weeds.

Temperature and Humidity

Camellias are reliably hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9, although the fall-blooming ‘Winter’ series and spring-blooming ‘April’ series of camellias are hardy in zone 6B. Gardeners in cold climates can increase the probabilities of their camellias surviving the winter by carefully selecting their permanent site within the landscape. Ironically, a northern-facing planting has a plus over a hotter southern site within the garden. Southern locations within the garden may cause the plant to interrupt dormancy too early, leading to the loss of flowers to frost damage. A north-facing site combined with a building, hedge, or fence that acts as a windbreak will give cold climate gardeners the simplest rate of success.

Fertilizer

Proper fertilization is vital for an outsized flower count. Apply a potassium-rich fertilizer in July to facilitate petal development. Apply a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer within the spring to stay foliage dark green and plush. you’ll also buy fertilizers specifically designed for camellias, or maybe an azalea fertilizer.

Pruning Camellias

Pruning should be kept at a minimum with camellias because it can ruin the shape of the shrub. Prune camellias after flowering to stay the inside of the shrubs freed from dead and non-blooming branches. Remove any branches that droop on the bottom.

Propagating Camellias

Camellias are often propagated by seeds, but it can take quite awhile to grow mature plants. It’s more common to propagate by layering.

In summer, bend an extended stem right down to the bottom and make an angled nick in it. Loop the stem into the soil therefore the wounded area is buried within the ground, and use a rock or stiff wire to carry it in situ within the soil. Over the course of a full season , an honest network of roots should develop from the wound within the buried stem. At now , you’ll clip it faraway from the parent plant and obtain the offspring to maneuver elsewhere.

Varieties of Camellia

Planting a mixture of camellia varieties can provide the gardener with a succession of blossoms from September through May.

• April Dawn’ is hardy in zone 6; the white flowers are streaked with pink.
• ‘Elfin Rose’ has pale pink blooms that appear in October and November.
• ‘Fragrant Pink’ has small pink flower clusters with a sweet fragrance that is especially obvious on warm winter days.
• ‘Francis Eugene Phillips‘ is highly sought after for ornamental fringed foliage and its ruffled pink flowers.
• ‘Rebel Yell’ has white flowers with red blotches and prominent stamens.
• ‘Sea Foam’ has perfect-looking white flowers with a crisp form.
• ‘Yuletide’ features red blooms on a compact, four-foot-tall shrub.

Common Pests/ Diseases

If your camellia develops yellow leaves, this will flow from to a few causes. First, inspect the undersides of leaves for tea scale, an insect pest that feeds on leaf juices. Although the leaves will appear yellow on top, the undersides will look white or fuzzy. Treat tea scale with horticultural oil. An iron deficiency also can cause yellow leaves. Test your soil, and feed your camellias with an iron supplement if needed.

Landscape Uses

This is a superb shrub for shrub borders, backgrounds, and loose hedges. In large gardens, place camellias as anchor points along the garden path. Use the camellia as an espalier specimen—training the shrub to grow flat against a fence or wall. Pair camellias with azaleas for continuous blooms from winter through late spring. Plant a blooming blanket of pansies under camellias. Coordinate camellia blooms with complementary or contrasting spring bulbs, like crocus or Virginia bluebells.