Camellia…First Lady of the South

Perhaps no flower is more associated with the Southern United States than the Camellia. A quick search of the internet pulls up article after article linking the Camellia to the South and there are references to the Camellia being introduced to the United States through the port of Charleston in the 1780’s. The state of Alabama has even made the Camellia their state flower but in researching this article I found there are clubs and societies from California to Massachusetts that are passionate about the Camellia. Clearly the Camellia is loved by more than just our friends in the South and if you have the right planting conditions you may want to try to grow one too.

The Camellia is actually native to Japan and Southern Asia and it is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 20 feet tall and 20 feet wide. It has large, glossy leaves and there are around 3,000 varieties that come in a range of colors with either single or double flowers. The flowers usually appear late in the winter which often makes them the first plant to flower and thus they are highly valued by many gardeners. They are considered to be hardy in USDA Zones 6 through 9 but seem to do their best in zones 7 and 8. However, I would encourage you to check out the American Camellia Society website, www.camellias-acs.com to see how they fair in your area of the country.

Camellias are fast growing but temperamental plants and they do require specific environmental conditions to thrive and look their best. They require rich, acid soil and are often companion plants to rhododendrons and azaleas. They do best in partly shady conditions that are found under a canopy of trees as too much sun can scorch their leaves, particularly in the summer. They are not drought tolerant so if you live in an area where regular rainfall is a concern they will require supplemental watering during dry spells. They also have a very shallow root system so it is best not to try to grow other plants such as ground covers underneath them if it will require you to disturb the soil under the Camellia.   

While they can be planted in the fall they often do better being planted in the spring as this gives them a whole growing season to allow their root system to develop. They also benefit from an application of fertilizer made for acid loving plants in April and September. It is also desirable to routinely pick up any leaves that have fallen from the shrub to prevent diseases and discourage insects. A Camellia should be pruned only right after it has finished blooming. If you prune it too late in the season you can actually be removing the buds that will form the flowers in February and March. Finally, while they do bloom in the late winter and early spring Camellias are susceptible to late season frosts which can cause the buds to drop. Camellias are definitely a plant that needs to be put in the right place and planted correctly from the outset but given the right conditions; they provide beauty at a time of year where it might be needed the most. 

Photo courtesy of Jill Mazur.

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  • info@daleharvey.co.nz Nov 08

    Camellias are fairly easily grown in large containers or tubs: think ‘big’, it’s better! Use a peat-based soil mixed with mature compost. Always keep this moist but never soggy as they need good drainage like a forest or woodland soil from where they originated in Asia. Grow them outdoors in morning sun or dappled shade during the warmer months. Then before frosts arrive in the autumn bring them into a conservatory, glasshouse or sunroom. They love winter sunshine but do best in a cool and dampish environment the same as when growing Azaleas in containers. We are Blessed here in our Quarter Acre Paradise Gardens in Auckland, New Zealand to have the perfect climate for Camellias. Our gardens would feature at least 50 varieties which we use as feature container plants, hedges, screens and topiaries. They are well worth the effort.

    Thank you for sharing this information.  Very helpful.  Would love to see your Camellias one day.

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