Growing Camellias

Grow Sasanquas and Japonicas in the Garden

Oct 30, 2009 Beverley Boorer

To get glorious flowers without much work or trouble, try growing camellias. They will delight the fussiest gardener with their exquisite blooms

Camellia flowers come in all sizes and shapes from a petite baby’s fist size to that of a man’s outspread hand.

Many people consider camellias to be the queen of plants. The glossy, dark green foliage never seems to wilt or die no matter how hot and dry the summer gets. They are a hardy evergreen shrub that prefers a temperate region. But they can withstand light frosts.

What the Flowers are Like

Flower colours range from a red that is nearly black, through all shades of pink to purest white and even yellow. Some are multi-colored with pink spots on white or vice-versa. Some have pink edging on the purest white petals.

Camellia flowers can be single, double or semi-double. The golden stamens at the centre are sometimes long and profuse and in other types shorter. Sometimes the stamens seem to mix with tiny central petals. You can get so many different varieties of camellias that it is possible to have them blooming in nearly every season of the year. Unfortunately, they cannot tolerate heavy frosts or snow.

Size of the Camellia Bush

The size of the camellia plant can vary from a tiny groundcover to a splendid bush way over head-high, and many can be trained to climb over an archway, even though they are not technically climbers. To do this plant a tall-growing camellia at each side of your archway and prune off all but the two most vigorous shoots. Tie these to the arch as they grow. Leave plenty of room to each side of the camellia as it often grows as wide as it is tall.

Soil and Growing Conditions for Camellias

Camellias grow in almost any soil except alkaline and clay – and if clay is the problem then the addition of gypsum will solve it. And while camellias will grow in poor soil without much fertilizer being added, they certainly respond to good conditions, growing quickly to their mature height.

They love lots of organic matter in the soil and must have good drainage. They are ideal for gardens without much water because they have a strong, deep taproot that finds the scantiest water supply. The smaller camellia varieties can be grown in tubs. The addition of peat moss to either tub or garden will ensure that the camellia is a happy plant.

Sadly, it’s true that most camellias are short on scent, but some of the newer ones do now boast a light, delicate fragrance. All that is needed is a little dappled shade to grow the most stunning camellia display imaginable. In fact, some camellias don’t even need dappled shade. The darker colour the bloom is the less shade it needs. Many sasanqua varieties can be grown in full sun.

Different Camellia Varieties

There are two varieties of camellia – C. japonica and C. sasanqua. Both are delightful, with the japonica variety the one to need more shade. Growing palms or a palm-shaped tree - something with a tall trunk and light, spreading canopy - can provide this. Then plant the camellias right underneath. Gorgeous!

For many of the better types of camellia, you’ll have to shop at a specialist nursery. Here are a few varieties: -

Pink and white – RL Wheeler Variegated. Very hardy.
Red (almost black) – Bob Hope.
Coral red – Guilio Nuccio. Nuccio’s gem has a perfect formal bloom.
White – Lovelight – very hardy.
White with pink edges – Desire. Needs partial shade.
Deep rose – Drama girl. Can be pruned for a shrub at 6 ft

There are many more camellia varieties and new ones are being created every year. Every gardener deserves to have at least one camellia in the garden. Once established, these prolific blooms will create a pink reflection effect on the ground below as the petals drop. So to revitalise your garden grow a camellia or three.

The copyright of the article Growing Camellias in Flower Gardens is owned by Beverley Boorer. Permission to republish Growing Camellias in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.