Plant Family Guides: Camellia Guides
Hardiness
Learn How To Plant, Care and Grow Gorgeous Camellias
A common myth about Camellias is that they are very fussy and difficult to grow. This is not true. Camellias are exceptionally care-free plants if they are given a well-chosen site. Here are some basic rules that need to be followed to enjoy their splendid flowers.
Create a Garden with Great Winter Interest
Winters may be long and cold, but your garden can allay that dreariness and be transformed into a place of natural beauty with visually arresting textures, colors, fragrances, and flowers. To create such a beautiful winter scene, you need to make sure you select the right plants.
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
Camellia sasanqua
Camellia sasanqua is one of the loveliest fall flowers, graceful in form, tender in color and pleasing in fragrance. As summer fades and the leaves begin to turn, this camellia opens, with aplomb, the camellia season.
Camellia japonica (Japanese Camellia)
Camellia japonica is the predominant species of the genus and counts over 30 000 cultivars in a wide array of flower forms and colors. Its shapely habit, handsome, glossy foliage and fabulous flowers have attracted gardeners for hundreds of years in Japan, China and Korea.
Camellia x williamsii (Hybrid Camellia)
Camellia x williamsii are the first camellia hybrids. Generally blooming after the Japanese camellias, they result from the cross of Camellia japonica and Camellia saluenensis. Among the most cold-hardy camellias (inherited from the japonica parent), most of them are extremely vigorous, free-blooming, with attractive, semi-glossy, leathery leaves.
Best Companion Plants for Camellias
While extraordinarily good-looking on their own, Camellias however look most charming when planted with companion plants. Well-behaved, they make perfect partners with other plants and help create strikingly beautiful combinations in the garden.
Which Camellia is Right for my Garden?
There are camellia varieties for almost any garden situation, in a wide range of flower shapes and colors, sizes, growth habit and blooming seasons.
Spring Blooming Camellias
These late season Camellias are in their full glory in August - October in the southern hemisphere; March - May in the northern hemisphere. Adding color and interest to the spring garden, these gorgeous flowering shrubs are highly prized for the beauty of their exquisite blooms, their splendid evergreen foliage and their compact shapely habit.
Fall Blooming Camellias
As summer fades and the leaves begin to turn, the fall-blooming camellias open the camellia season, adding charm and color in the garden, at a time of the year when most plants are going to bed for the winter. These early season camellias boast some of the loveliest flowers in March - June in the southern hemisphere; in October - January in the northern hemisphere.
Winter Blooming Camellias
What a treat to find evergreen shrubs that flower during the dull days of winter. Queens of the winter flowers, mid-season Camellias provide a splendid floral show in June - August in the southern hemisphere; January - March in the northern hemisphere. Winters may be long and cold, but your garden can allay that dreariness and be transformed into a place of natural beauty with visually arresting textures or colors. While flowers are usually associated with spring or summer, they can also contribute to the beauty of the winter garden. Adapted to endure harsh winter conditions, they bring the garden to life with their bright, showy colors and attract the eye.
Long Blooming Camellias
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.
How to Espalier a Camellia
Ideal for decorative purposes, espalier is an artistic and ancient practice of training trees, shrubs, and woody vines by pruning and tying their branches to a frame, flat against a wall, fence, or trellis.
Most Fragrant Camellias
Here is a selection of fragrant camellias that could become the highlight of your fall, winter or spring garden!
Cold Hardy Camellias
Until recently, Camellias were the privilege of mild winter regions (Zones 7-10). Thanks to advancements in breeding, many new camellia varieties can be successfully grown in Zone 6 where they can endure temperatures as cool as -10F (-23C) if grown in sheltered locations. Here is a selection of winter hardy camellias that could become the highlight of your fall or spring garden!
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