Create Your Garden

Long Blooming Camellias

Fall Blooming Camellias, Winter Blooming Camellias, Spring Blooming Camellias, How to Grow Camellias, How to Care for Camellias, Landscaping with Camellias

Camellia, Camellias, How to grow Camellias, Camellias bloom time, Camellia bloom season, Japanese Camellias, Camellia Japonica, Camellia Sasanqua, Fall blooming Camellia, Winter Blooming Camellias, Spring Camellias, Cold hardy Camellias,

Prized for the beauty of their exquisite blooms and their splendid evergreen foliage, Camellias are attractive flowering shrubs that burst into flowers when the rest of the garden offers little. Blooming prodigiously for weeks, some camellia varieties enjoy an extraordinarily long blooming season extending from November to April in the northern hemisphere or from April to September in the southern hemisphere.

Most of these camellia varieties belong to the camellia japonica species, which counts over 30 000 cultivars in a wide array of flower forms and colors. The blooms can reach 5 inches across (12 cm) and create a gorgeous floral display from late winter to spring. They range from pure white to soft pink to dark red and may be single, semi-double, double, formal double, or full peony form. These broadleaved evergreen shrubs feature a shapely habit and handsome glossy foliage.

The Camellia hybrids, such as the Camellia x williamsii varieties, also include long-blooming cultivars. Generally blooming after the Japanese camellias, these hybrids are generally extremely vigorous, free-blooming, with attractive, semi-glossy, leathery leaves. Graceful shrubs, they drop their spent heads with elegance (no deadheading required!), leaving a tidy bush.

Guide Information

Hardiness 7 - 9
Climate Zones 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Shrubs
Genus Camellia
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid)
Fall
Winter
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance Full Shade
Landscaping Ideas Wall-Side Borders, Patio And Containers, Hedges And Screens, Beds And Borders, Walls And Fences
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Japanese Garden, Traditional Garden

Beautiful Early to Late Season Camellias

Growing Camellias

A common myth about Camellias is that they are very fussy and difficult to grow. This is not true. Camellias are exceptionally carefree plants if they are given a well-chosen site.

  • Part shade lovers, camellias are best grown in consistently moistacidicorganically rich, well-drained soils, similar to azaleas and rhododendrons. Apply a root mulch (leaves or shredded bark) and provide a site sheltered from cold, dry winds, as buds and flowers may be damaged by cold winds. Protect from the early morning sun and from the direct hot summer afternoon sun. Older camellia plants can thrive in full sun when mature enough to have their roots shaded by a dense canopy of leaves.
  • Pruning is rarely needed as most plants develop an attractive shape without pruning. If necessary, pruning should be done just after blooming to avoid removing next year’s flower buds.
  • Pick up blooms that drop to the ground to minimize petal blight (rust spots on the flowers).
  • Spring planting, rather than fall, is recommended for northern areas because it gives the plant more time to get established before hard freezes. Watering regularly and deeply is vital in the first summer after planting.
  • Fertilizing is unnecessary, but a light application in springtime will increase growth. Excessive or late feeding can lead to bud drop. Some flower bud dropping may be a natural phenomenon as many camellias set more buds than they can open.
  • Camellias are susceptible to viruses and fungal diseases, including leaf spots, anthracnose, black mold, petal blight, canker, and root rot. Watch also for aphids, planthoppers, and spider mites.

Landscaping with Camellias

  • Highly ornamental, camellias look fabulous in mixed shrub borders where they display dramatic winter blooms. They still add beauty to the landscape, even when they are not in bloom. Their handsome evergreen foliage creates a lovely backdrop for other shrubs and flowers. This helps in presenting a continuously changing scenery during the year. As each season approaches, new blooms emerge, such as masses of brilliant pink tulips in a pale blue cloud of forget-me-nots for a fresh, new eye-pleasing display.
  • Plant camellias near other acid-loving plants, such as azalea and rhododendron. Plant at least 5 feet (150 cm) away from other plants to allow good air circulation and prevent competition for water while becoming established.
  • Camellias are also well-suited flowering shrubs for woodland gardens 
  • Camellias can be used to create screens and hedges. Plant your camellias 3 feet apart (90 cm) when using them as hedges.
  • Perfect as specimen plants, many Camellia sasanqua are excellent choices for espaliers.
  • Camellias make lovely container-grown plants, and this is a particularly great method if your garden soil is too alkaline for camellias.

Your Camellia Doesn’t Bloom or Losses Flower Buds? 

These common problems can be easily avoided by providing good growing conditions:

  • Water during dry spells in late summer when flower buds are forming
  • Mulch with a 3-4 inch (7-10 cm) layer of chipped bark or leaf mold in late winter or early spring to conserve water around the roots
  • Move container-grown camellias out from under the eaves of the house in late summer or fall so that they catch the rainfall.
  • Do not feed camellias later than the end of July, as excessive or late feeding can lead to bud drop Some natural bud drop may occur where too many buds have formed, particularly with double-flowered cultivars. This should not be excessive and is nothing to worry about
  • Protect tender cultivars with a double layer of horticultural fleece in winter, as low temperatures can lead to bud drop.

You may want to review these Camellia guides

Best Companion Plants for Camellias
Cold Hardy Camellias
Fall Blooming Camellias
Most Fragrant Camellias
Spring Blooming Camellias
Which Camellia is Right for my Garden?
Winter Blooming Camellias
How to Espalier a Camellia
Camellia japonica (Japanese Camellia)
Camellia sasanqua
Camellia x williamsii (Hybrid Camellia)
Compare All Camellia
Compare Now
Guides with
Camellia
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Guide Information

Hardiness 7 - 9
Climate Zones 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Shrubs
Genus Camellia
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid)
Fall
Winter
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance Full Shade
Landscaping Ideas Wall-Side Borders, Patio And Containers, Hedges And Screens, Beds And Borders, Walls And Fences
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Japanese Garden, Traditional Garden
Compare All Camellia
Compare Now
Guides with
Camellia

Related Items

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone