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Camellias

How to Choose 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, Cold hardy Camellias, Spring Blooming 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 best flowering shrubs. With just a couple of well-chosen shrubs, it is possible to have blooms in your landscape from October through May.
Do you have a camellia in your garden? If you don’t, maybe it is time to reconsider!

Basic Facts About Camellias

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. The young leaves of another species, Camellia sinensis, are processed for tea, one of the world’s most popular drinks.

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 Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring
Fall
Winter
Height 2' - 20'
(60cm - 6.1m)
Spread 2' - 10'
(60cm - 3m)
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, Showy
Landscaping Ideas Patio And Containers, Hedges And Screens, Wall-Side Borders, Beds And Borders, Walls And Fences
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Japanese Garden, Traditional Garden

Camellia Flower Forms

Camellias exhibit six distinct flower forms, each with a unique arrangement of petals and stamens.

  • Single: These have a single row of petals and a central cluster of yellow stamens.
  • Semi-double: These feature two or more rows of petals with prominent stamens in the center.
  • Anemone form: This form has one or more rows of outer petals lying flat or undulating, and the center is a convex mass of intermingled petaloids and stamens.
  • Peony form: Multiple rows of petals are irregular and mixed with petaloids and stamens in the center.
  • Rose form double: The blooms have overlapping petals with concealed stamens, resembling a rose.
  • Formal double: Multiple rows of overlapping petals are arranged symmetrically without visible stamens.

These various forms add to the allure and variety of camellias, making them a versatile and attractive garden choice.

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

Single
Camelia japonica ‘Adelina Patti’

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

Semi-Double
Camelia japonica ‘Adolphe Audusson’

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

Anemone Form
Camelia japonica ‘Barbara Woodroof’

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

Peony Form or informal Double
Camelia japonica ‘Annie Wylam’

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

Rose Form Double
Camelia japonica ‘Spring Frill’

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

Formal Double
Camelia japonica ‘Bonomiana’

Camellia Blooming Seasons

Blooming seasons vary with climate and cultivars. Camellias do not all flower simultaneously 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.

Growing Camellias

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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 Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring
Fall
Winter
Height 2' - 20'
(60cm - 6.1m)
Spread 2' - 10'
(60cm - 3m)
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, Showy
Landscaping Ideas Patio And Containers, Hedges And Screens, Wall-Side Borders, Beds And Borders, Walls And Fences
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Japanese Garden, Traditional Garden
Compare All Camellia
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Guides with
Camellia

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