Glossy evergreen leaves all year round, then flowers that open anywhere from late autumn to early summer depending on the variety: camellia is one of the few shrubs that earns its keep on a shaded terrace or balcony. Give it heath soil in a freely draining pot and partial sun, and it will bloom year after year.
| Name | Camellia |
|---|---|
| Family | Theaceae |
| Type | flower shrub |
| Height in pot | 3 to 10 ft (1 to 3 m) |
| Exposure | part shade to full shade |
| Substratum | heath soil |
| Foliage | evergreen |
| Flowering | late autumn to early summer, variety-dependent |
Our tip: For container growing, go for smaller species, those not exceeding 3 ft (80 cm) tall at maturity. Here are tips to ensure your potted Camellia blooms year after year.
Container growing suits the more compact camellias, those that stay close to 3 ft (80 cm) for years before needing a bigger home. The varieties below are widely sold and cover flowering from mid-autumn right through to late spring.
| Variety | Flower | Flowering season | Habit in a pot |
|---|---|---|---|
| ‘Jury’s Yellow’ | Anemone-form, white with a cream centre | Early to mid-spring | Narrow and upright, well suited to a pot |
| ‘Nuccio’s Pearl’ | Formal double, white shading to pink | Early to mid-spring | Neat and slow-growing, stays small for years |
| ‘Spring Festival’ | Small double flowers, pale pink | Mid to late spring | Slim and columnar, one of the best for tubs |
| ‘Donation’ | Semi-double, orchid pink | Late winter to mid-spring | Upright, free-flowering, drops its spent flowers cleanly |
| ‘Debbie’ | Peony-form, deep rose pink | Late winter to mid-spring | Bushy and reliable, easy to keep compact |
| ‘Yuletide’ | Single, bright red with yellow stamens | Late autumn to early winter | Compact and dense, small leaves |
Whether in soil or a pot, Camellia needs good drainage. Soggy roots? No, thanks!
Whatever the container’s material, drainage is king!
Camellia in a pot will love heath soil for proper growth.
If you’ve picked a dwarf species, a simple maintenance pruning will do.
Like most shrubs and potted plants, watering Camellia is a big deal. In pots, soil dries out much quicker.
Your Camellia might suffer and die if not careful.
Whether in a pot or in-ground, Camellia often encounters issues related to soil nature (usually too limey), or watering. These elements often cause leaf-level reactions.
This often occurs when soil drainage is poor, causing water to pool at root level.
End-of-winter fertilization with heather plant fertilizer helps fortify Camellia, improve blooming, and stave off diseases.
This is usually due to excess limestone in the soil, causing what is called Camellia chlorosis.
A mulch of pine bark on the surface a few inches thick (a few centimeters) solves many problems.
It helps prevent weeds, which also become easier to pull out.
→ Discover all our Camellia growing tips
