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Which Camellia is Right for my Garden?

Fall Blooming Camellias, Winter Blooming Camellias, Spring Blooming Camellias, Landscaping with Camellias

Fall Blooming Camellias, Winter Blooming Camellias, Spring Blooming Camellias, Landscaping with Camellias, Choosing Camellias

Queens of the winter flowers, Camellias are attractive evergreen shrubs that are highly prized for the beauty of their exquisite blooms, their splendid evergreen foliage and their compact shapely habit. Blooming prodigiously for weeks from fall to spring (depending on climate and variety), when the rest of the garden offers little, Camellias are ranked as one of the very best flowering shrubs. With just a couple of well-chosen shrubs, it is possible to have blooms in your landscape from October through May.

There are numerous species of Camellia (about 250) but the Camellia types commonly grown as landscape shrubs are Camellia sasanqua, Camellia japonica, and hybrids of these. Camellia reticulata, Camellia hiemalis, Camellia vernalis, and their hybrids are less commonly used in landscapes.

Which Camellia Variety?

There are camellia varieties for almost any garden situation, in a wide range of flower shapes and colors, sizes, growth habit and blooming seasons.

Guide Information

Hardiness 6 - 9
Heat Zones 7 - 8
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, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy
Landscaping Ideas Wall-Side Borders, Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Japanese Garden, Traditional Garden

Main Camellia Types for the Garden

Which Camellia Flower Form?

There are six commonly recognized flower forms.

"Camellia, Single:
One row of 5-8 petals which may be loose, regular or irregular. Conspicuous display of stamens and pistils.
Great camellia pick: ‘Minato No Akebono
camellia adolphe audusson Semi-Double:
Two or more rows of large petals which may be loose, regular or irregular. Conspicuous display of stamens and pistils
Great camellia picks: ‘Apple Blossom‘, ‘April Blush‘, ‘April Remembered‘, ‘Bob Hope‘, ‘Carter’s Sunburnt‘, ‘Drama Girl‘, ‘Hagoromo‘, ‘Herme‘, ‘Scentuous‘, ‘Spring Mist‘, ‘Tricolor
camellia barbara woodroof Anemone Form:
One or more rows of large outer petals either flat or undulating. Convex central mass of intermingled petaloids (small petals) and stamens.
Great camellia picks: ‘Bonnie Marie‘, ‘Elegans‘, ‘Elegant Beauty
camellia annie wylam Peony Form or informal Double:
Domed, rounded flower with usually irregular petals intermingled with petaloids and stamens.
Great camellia picksAnnie Wylam‘, ‘Australis‘, ‘Bonanza‘, ‘Cinnamon Cindy‘, ‘Debutante‘, ‘Fragrant Pink‘, ‘Kramer’s Supreme‘,’Scentsation‘, ‘Sparkling Burgundy‘.
camellia spring frills Rose Form Double:
Petals imbricated or overlapped as in formal double, but opening to reveal stamen display in a concave center
Great camellia picks: ‘April Rose‘, ‘Lady Campbell
camellia bonomiana Formal Double:
Many rows of flat, cupped or recurved petals, overlapped in symmetrical form, that obscure stamens.
Great camellia picks: ‘Alba Plena‘, Bonomiana‘, ‘Desire‘, Lavinia Maggi‘, ‘Pink Perfection‘, ‘E.G. Waterhouse‘, ‘Les Jury‘, ‘Water Lily

Which Camellia Flower Size?

camellia minoto-no-akebono Miniature: 2-1/2 inches or less (6 cm or less) to Small: 2-1/2 to 3 inches (6 to 7.5 cm)
Great camellia picks: ‘Cinnamon Cindy‘, ‘Fragrant Pink‘, ‘Minato No Akebono‘, ‘Scentuous‘, ‘Spring Mist‘, ‘Ave Maria
Camellia sweet emily kate Medium: 3 to 4 inches (7.6 to 10.4 cm)
Great camellia picks: ‘Polar Ice‘, ‘Sparkling Burgundy‘, ‘Sweet Emily Kate‘, ‘Chansonette‘, ‘Alba Plena‘, Annie Wylam‘, Apple Blossom‘, ‘April Rose‘, ‘Ballet Dancer‘, Bonomiana‘, Debutante‘, Desire‘, Hagoromo‘, ‘Herme‘, ‘Lady Campbell‘, ‘E.G. Waterhouse
Camellia Debbie Large: 4 to 5 inches (10.5 to 12.5 cm) to Very Large: over 5 inches (12.6 cm and over)
Great camellia picks: ‘Bonnie Marie‘, ‘Pink Icicle‘, ‘April Blush‘, ‘April Remembered‘, Australis‘, ‘Bob Hope‘, ‘Carter’s Sunburnt‘, ‘Don Mac‘, ‘Drama Girl‘, ‘Elegans‘,  ‘Kramer’s Supreme‘, ‘Lavinia Maggi‘, ‘Moonlight Bay‘, ‘anticipation‘, ‘Debbie‘, ‘Donation‘, ‘Elegant Beauty

 

Fragrant Camellias?

Cherished for their masses of magnificent flowers, Camellias are, without a doubt, one of the most desirable plants to grow. However, the luscious blooms of most camellias bear no scent. Here is a selection of fragrant camellias that could become the highlight of your fall, winter or spring garden.

Which Blooming Season?

Blooming seasons vary with climate and cultivars. Camellias do not all flower at the same time and are classified with a blooming time, ranging from Early to Late season, relative to other camellias. Therefore, to fill your garden with continuously blooming camellias throughout the season for months of floral display, you may plan to plant a variety of cultivars, from Early to Late season bloomers.

  • Early season camellias: March – June in the southern hemisphere; October – January in the northern hemisphere
  • Mid season camellias: June – August in the southern hemisphere; January – March in the northern hemisphere
  • Late season camellias: August – October in the southern hemisphere; March – May in the northern hemisphere
  • Early to Late season camellias: April – September in the southern hemisphere; November – April in the northern hemisphere
Learn How To Plant, Care and Grow Gorgeous Camellias
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Spring Blooming Camellias
Fall Blooming Camellias
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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 6 - 9
Heat Zones 7 - 8
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, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy
Landscaping Ideas Wall-Side Borders, Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Japanese Garden, Traditional Garden
Compare All Camellia
Compare Now
Guides with
Camellia

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