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Camellia japonica ‘Ave Maria’

Camellia 'Ave Maria', 'Ave Maria' Camellia, Fall Blooming Camellias, Winter Blooming Camellias, Spring Blooming Camellias, Early to Mid Season Camellias

AGM Award
Camellia Japonica 'Ave Maria', Camellia 'Ave Maria', 'Ave Maria' Camellia, Fall Blooming Camellias, Winter Blooming Camellias, Spring Blooming Camellias, Early to Late Season Camellias, Pink flowers, Pink Camellias

Extraordinarily beautiful, award-winning Camellia japonica ‘Ave Maria’ features small to medium flowers, 2-4 in. wide (6-9 cm), with up to 50 petals in a delicate shade of silvery pink. The elegant blooms vary from formal double (no stamen display) to peony form with the golden stamens scattered amongst the central petals. The flowers are happily produced over a fairly long period extending from early to mid-season (October to March in the Northern Hemisphere;  March to August in the Southern Hemisphere). This compact Camellia forms an attractive, neat, rounded bush. Its lustrous foliage of glossy dark green leaves is evergreen and very ornamental year-round.

  • This evergreen shrub has a slow, compact, upright habit and grows up to 6-12 ft. tall (180-360 cm) and 6-10 ft. wide (180-300 cm)
  • Winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.
  • A part shade lover, this plant is best grown in consistently moist, acidic, organically richwell-drained soils. 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 the direct hot summer afternoon sun.
  • May be attacked by aphids, scale insects, and vine weevil
  • Mass in mixed shrub borders for dramatic winter blooms. Great flowering shrub for woodland gardens or as a screen and hedge. Perfect as a specimen plant and may be effectively grown in tubs or large containers.
  • Apply a root mulch (leaves or shredded bark)
  • Prune after flowering. Prune to thin branching and control size and shape.

Camellia japonica is the pre-eminent species of the genus and counts over 30 000 cultivars in a wide array of flower forms and colors. The blooms can reach 5 in. across (12 cm) and create a gorgeous floral display from late winter to spring. They range in color from pure white to soft pink to dark red and may be single, semi-double, double, formal double, or full peony form. Slow grower, this broadleaved, evergreen shrub may grow up to 25 feet (7.5 m), but more often to 6-12 feet (180-360 cm) with a spread of 6-10 feet (180-300 cm). Its shapely habit, handsome, glossy foliage, and fabulous flowers have attracted gardeners for hundreds of years in Asia. Long-lived, some Japanese camellias, around the emperor’s palace in Japan, are known to be more than 500 years old. Unfortunately, Japanese camellias are not always cold-hardy (USDA Hardiness Zone 7 – 9).

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.

Requirements

Hardiness 7 - 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, H1
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Theaceae
Genus Camellia
Common names Japanese Camellia, Camellia
Exposure Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early)
Fall
Winter
Height 6' - 12'
(180cm - 3.7m)
Spread 6' - 10'
(180cm - 3m)
Spacing 72" - 120"
(180cm - 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, Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens, Patio And Containers, Wall-Side Borders
Garden Styles Traditional Garden, Informal and Cottage, Japanese Garden, City and Courtyard
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Camellia sinensis (Tea Plant)
Camellia sasanqua ‘Shishigashira’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Plantation Pink’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Debbie’
Camellia x williamsii ‘E.G. Waterhouse’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Les Jury’

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Plants with Pink Flowers to Add Romance to Your Garden
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.
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Requirements

Hardiness 7 - 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, H1
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Theaceae
Genus Camellia
Common names Japanese Camellia, Camellia
Exposure Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early)
Fall
Winter
Height 6' - 12'
(180cm - 3.7m)
Spread 6' - 10'
(180cm - 3m)
Spacing 72" - 120"
(180cm - 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, Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens, Patio And Containers, Wall-Side Borders
Garden Styles Traditional Garden, Informal and Cottage, Japanese Garden, City and Courtyard
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Guides with
Camellia
Not sure which Camellia to pick?
Compare Now

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