Glossy evergreen leaves stand bright against a jaded winter sky, and the flowers open from autumn onwards, when almost nothing else is out. The camellia is the shrub to plant for colour in the coldest months: keep its soil light, cool and acid, and some varieties will bloom for six months without a break.
| Name | Camellia |
|---|---|
| Family | Theaceae |
| Type | flower shrub |
| Exposure | full sun, part sun, shade |
| Soil | light, well-drained |
| Height | 3-16 feet (1-5 m) |
| Foliage | evergreen |
| Flowering | autumn, winter |
The bright color of its leaves marks a stark contrast to the sometimes jaded color of the winter sky.
It is recommended to plant camellia preferably in fall to ease root development and allow for better blooming the following year.
Camellias need regular watering during the first 2 to 3 years if temperatures are high for better root development.
Snow will not damage your winter camellia. Quite the opposite: snow will protect if from hard freezing.
Almost everything a camellia asks of you is a question of timing. The table below gathers the jobs named in this article and the season each one belongs to.
| Task | Season | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Planting (ideal) | Autumn | Roots establish before the cold and flowering improves the following year |
| Planting container-grown plants | Spring | Perfectly possible, but the shrub needs regular watering at the start |
| Planting autumn- or winter-flowering types | Any time up to spring | These species run no risk from a later planting |
| Watering young shrubs | Early to late summer, first 2-3 years | Heat and dry spells check root development on a plant that likes cool soil |
| Mulching with pine bark | Early winter, topped up before summer | Holds moisture, shields roots from freezing and keeps weeds down |
| Pruning (only if needed) | After the last flowers drop | A winter-flowering camellia must finish blooming first |
Get the timing right and this slow-growing shrub asks for very little else.
Do you wish to have flowers in winter on your deck, balcony or terrace? Camellia is ideal: on the one hand, growing in pots suits it well, and on the other, it blooms in winter.
Its slow growth means that it doesn’t need any pruning and maintenance is reduced.
Nonetheless, if you wish to balance the shape or reduce the size of your camellia, wait for blooming to be over.
Certain camellias are part of a hedge, or are potted, and these must be pruned.
Take note that since this camellia will bloom in winter, you must wait for flowers to fall off before pruning your shrub.
Since camellia loves rather cool soil, you’ll have to water in case of prolonged dry spells or heat waves.
Lastly, thick pine bark mulch is the ideal solution to retain moisture in the ground in summer, protect it from from freezing in winter, and avoid weed growth.
Don’t get confused when purchasing your camellia because blooming seasons can spread over several months.
Indeed, not all will bloom in winter. Check labels to get blooming in the months you want flowers.
To choose your winter camellia well, the main varieties can be grouped depending on their blooming.
Thus, if you want flowers around Christmas, you might plant Japanese Camellia ‘Gloire de Nantes’ or if slightly later, the ‘Duchesse de Caze’.
Note that the ‘Gloire de Nantes’, shown here, can bloom for an uninterrupted 6 months.
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Mulching with maritime pine bark keeps weeds from growing, protects against the cold, and enriches the soil with natural nutrients. It is also excellent for heather plants because it improves soil acidity. If you increase soil acidity around your camellia, flowering will increase in quantity and quality.
