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camellia have been appreciate possessions of gardeners for decades . They fly high in meek climate from California to Florida and are uncommitted in thousands of cultivars . These broadleaved evergreen shrubs have durable , glossy foliage and gorgeous flower . The most common species of camellia areCamellia japonicaandCamellia sasanqua .
On this page : The Basics|Planting|Care|Pictures|Design Ideas|FAQs
THE BASICS
Zones:
Commonly , 7 - 10 . Modern varieties bred fromC. oleiferasuch as ‘ Survivor ’ and ‘ Winter ’s Rose ’ , are brave to Zone 6 .
Height/Spread:
Most shrub reach a meridian between 6 and 12 feet , and just about as wide .
Exposure:
Part shadowiness to full shade . Most prefer dappled illumination , but a few miscellanea require ( or put up ) more sunshine than others . In world-wide , cherry - flower varieties can withstand more sunlight than ashen mixture .
Bloom time:
Different varieties of camelia bloom from late fall to mid - spring . Stagger planting of early , mid- and late varieties and you may have efflorescence from November through April or May . C. sasanquatends to flower in the beginning , mid - fall to other winter . C. japonicablooms from mid - winter to fountain . cross bloom times will vary depending on variety .
Flower color and characteristics:
Beautiful flowers , mainly clean and ghost of pink or red , and various combining . They get in various shapes : windflower , individual , semi - two-fold , schematic twofold , rose - form double and peony course .
Life span:
camelia are long - last plants , with some living more than 100 long time .
PLANTING
When to plant:
In zone 8 - 10 , camellias can be planted in the fall , wintertime or spring . However , in zone 6 or 7 , they are better planted in spring to allow for their theme time to ground before colder weather sets in .
Where to plant:
Site in a locating protected from wind . In hot climates , locate where they are protected from vivid illumination or leaves may be scalded by the sun .
How to plant:
Plant layer with the dirt surface ; specially avoid planting too deep . The planting hole should be as deep as the rootball and twice as wide . Refill and tamp down down the bottom 3 - 4 inches of the cakehole . centre the flora and filling , sloping the filth up the sides . The top of the rootball should be 2 - 4 inches above the soil level . Do n’t cover the top of the rootball , but mulch around the plant with no more than 1 column inch spread over the rootball . Water well .
Planting in containers:
camellia are neat for well - draining container and should be planted with pot mix containing 50 percent or more constitutive textile . Choose pocket-sized , slower - growing sort .
CARE
Soil:
Should be well - drained with a pH of 6 to 6.5 ( slightly caustic ) . Keep it moist .
Amendments:
Keep roots coolheaded with a 2 - inch layer of mulch such as pine straw or ground barque . Avoid “ mulch vent ” ; as Celeste Richard , executive manager of the American Camellia Society , say , “ mulch out , not up . ” fertilize with one of many availablecamellia fertilizersor a general 10 - 10 - 10 plant food in bounce after the flowers have dropped . invalidate feeding camelia after July , as previous feeding can cause bud drop .
Water:
water supply regularly for the first couple of eld , then keep soil moist , but not too squiffy . furnish summertime water in ironic mood .
Pruning:
Pruning is rarely needed , but it help to murder crossover limbs or diseased / dead Ellen Price Wood . This can be done after bloom has stop in leap .
Diseases/Pests:
For pestilence , natural products are available , such asneem petroleum . Camellia petal blight affects flowers and buds , turn them an unsightly brown . This is best void by removing spent flowers and not permit old flowers linger on the soil surface . Dispose of bloom in garbage ; do not compost , as composting will in all likelihood diffuse the fungal spores .
PICTURES OF CAMELLIA VARIETIES
Photo by : Andrea Jones .
1 . ' PROFESSOR SARGENT’In Florida one of the first japonicas to flower in autumn . An first-class cherry-red camellia with densely petaled , compact blooms . The deep crimson flowers are globose with an unbelievable upstanding , compact , curved center with a dozen or so wide , slightly dishevelled “ guard ” petals .
2 . ‘ MRS . D.W. DAVIS’Originated by D.W. Davis in the small northward Florida Ithiel Town of Seffner , first flower in 1951 . It easily has the largest flower bud of any camellia — often reaching the size of a golf ball . Blush pinkish flush are very delicate , sometimes hand 6 inch across .
3 . ‘ MARCHIONESS OF EXETER’Very profuse boner , very full and showy . The efflorescence is a complete double with cupped case-by-case petals , soft stand up in color with just a lead of velvet red .
4 . ‘ ALBA SUPERBA’Medium - sized white , semidouble flowers on a very vigorous , upright shrub .
5 . ‘ MATHOTIANA’Perhaps the most elegant camelia at Leu Gardens . bloom nearly defy description : 5 - inch - extensive cerise - red blossoms composed of full - bodied individual petals . Flowers rest on the plant for a very prospicient time , eventually strike on a bluish cast on the edges . A bluff and racy bush with bombastic leathery leaves and an open , solid branching habit .
6 . ‘ BOUTONNIERE’Cute little miniature efflorescence with flowers shaded from deep red on the outside to pale pink and white - mottle petal at the center . Very slow - growing bush .
7 . ‘ SHOWTIME’Clear abstemious pinkish , semidouble flower .
8 . ‘ GRAND SLAM’Brilliant bright violent flower with golden , upright stamen . get an Award of Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1975 .
9 . ‘ IMURA’Robert Bowden say , “ I ’m a sucker for the graceful , fluid line of this peak with its semidouble Baron Snow of Leicester white , tenacious , narrow flower petal that almost look like porcelain . ” arm are somewhat pendulous with long , narrow , calendered sullen gullible leaves , exquisitely serrated .
10 . ‘ MADAME DE STREKALOFF’Bright pink streaked in deep rose pink ; vertical gold stamens offer a nappy demarcation to delicate cupful - forge flowers . Shrub has a handsome rounded form of average height ( 8 to 10 feet ) .
11 . ‘ PINK idol ’ ( also bang as C. rusticana ‘ Otome’)The noble-minded lady of the southerly garden and a classic pinkish camellia for any garden . retentive bloom time of year . Shrub is large ( to 15 feet marvellous ) , open and upright . A must have if you like sure-enough - fashioned varieties .
12 . ‘ HERME ’ ( also known as ‘ Hikarugenji’)Blooms belatedly in the time of year with peony - case prime of blushful red and across-the-board tolerance of bright white . Attractive minute leaves on an erect plant life .
13 . ‘ ANITA’A favorite at Leu Gardens . Large , semidouble , clear pink flowers , striped with carmine red . The bush is thick but very vigorous and good — a good garden works .
photograph by : Ngoc Minh Ngo .
14 . ‘ silver grey WAVES’This japonica is a processed introduction from Nuccio ’s Nurseries . It has roll shiny - lily-white petals frothing around a clutch of yellow stamen . embellish with numerous large flower in mid- to late wintertime .
In his book , Plant This Instead ! , Troy B. Marden recommends the observe cold - sturdy varieties , which can be grown in zona 6 :
DESIGNING WITH CAMELLIAS
Camellias are versatile in the landscape painting — use as single specimen flora or intimate screen , and they are groovy in containers . Robert Bowden , director of Leu Gardens in Orlando , Florida , home to one of America ’s turgid appeal , offers these tips :
Tom Johnson , executive manager of Magnolia Plantation and Gardens in Charleston , South Carolina , adds :
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are camellias deer resistant?
ripe plants are not usually on the favour bill of fare of deer , although sometimes untried plants will suffer legal injury . For this reason , you may wish well to protect your newly plant camellias with some eccentric of barrier . Keep in mind that no plant is entirely good from hurt if other food rootage are not available . to boot , deer in some regions may crop on them , while in other regions they will leave them unmoved . Learn resistant plants .
Are camellias poisonous?
They are not poisonous , making them safe garden plants for your children and ducky . In fact , the leaves ofCamellia sinensisare used to make tea . However , if run through in large quantities , the plant ’s caffein subject matter could have problems such as elevated sum rate . For more safe plant life choices , see20 Common Plants Safe for Cats & Dogs .
Are camellias fast growing?
Generally , they grow at a medium stride for an evergreen plant , with most putting on about 4 to 8 inches a twelvemonth . If your warmheartedness is go under on one , select a sasanqua which will grow quicker than a japonica . ‘ Kanjiro ’ may be a good cultivar to test — a gardener in Atlanta reported hers place on more than 4 feet in just three years ( an average of 16 inches a class ) . Keep in judgment that growth charge per unit depart wildly depending on zona , exposure , soil , and other conditions . If you postulate something that matures at a dissolute rate you should study tight - develop deciduous works for filtered luminance such assweetshrub(Calycanthus),hydrangeas , spireas , elderberry , forsythia . Evergreen alternatives include celestial bamboo , genus Osmanthus , cherry laurel , andSolanum rantonnetii .
Are camellias fragrant?
Only a few are scented — consider one of these varieties if locating near a door or window : ‘ High Fragrance ’ , ‘ Cinnamon Cindy ’ , or ‘ Kramer ’s Supreme ’ .
Why is my camellia not flowering?
Make certain it ’s get enough water in summertime and regular weewee year - round in fiat to produce hefty buds . Mulch will help maintain soil wet . Late ( after July ) or excessive fertilizer can also do bud drop .
imagination :
This article was adapted from its original version for utilisation on the web .
Last updated : July 30 , 2018
