Camellia

Types of Camellias

Camellia Japonica

There are over 150 varieties of spring blooming camellias. Plant size will vary as much as bloom selection does. Camellias can run from small graceful little plants to larger ones you can use as a screen or hedge. Camellia japonica cultivars bloom in the spring, usually around March or April. They grow great in partial shade and should be pruned after they are done blooming, if they need pruning at all.

Camellia Sasanqua

This camellia blooms in the Fall. The only big difference between the spring and fall blooming camellias is bloom time. Sasanquas bloom either during the fall or winter. The blooms are usually a little smaller than the spring bloomers and the foliage is smaller also. Fall bloomers will grow great in partial shade.

Camellia sasanqua should be pruned after they are finished blooming.

Camellia Care

Watering

Fertilizing
Feed them twice a year with Hollytone. If the leaves start to yellow between feedings, water them with a water soluble fertilizer like Miracid. Excessive leaf drop can be caused by too little or too much water.

Pruning
For japonicas, prune after blooming, if needed. For sasanquas, prune after blooming.

Insects / Pests
Insects don't bother camellias very often. Lacebug, spider mite or cottony camellia scale are the only common pests. Heavy bud set will cause the blooms to be small when they open. Pick off some of the excess buds and blooms will be much larger and prettier.

Camellia Planting Instructions

• Dig a hole twice as wide as the pot and 6 to 8 inches deeper than the rootball.
• Mix half of the existing soil with Black Velvet or another soil conditioner. One bag of Black Velvet will do five 1 gallon plants, two 3 gallon plants or one 7 gallon plant.
• Mix the Black Velvet with the soil from the hole and layer it back into the hole around the plant.
• Unless you have a problem with extremely wet soil, the top of the plant's rootball should be level with the ground. When you have backfilled completely, tap the soil down lightly and water the plant with Ferti Lome Root Stimulator.
• Do not put soil or mulch up around the stem of the plant. This will suffocate and eventually kill the plant.
• Mulch as needed.

Camellia Blooms

There are several types of blooms:

• Single
• Semi-double
• Anemone
• Peony-form
• Rose-form
• Formal double
• Irregular double

 

Camellia Japonica Listing

Cultivar	Zone	Height	Width	Bloom Color
April Dawn	6-10	7'	4'	Pink and white
April Kiss	6-10	7'	4'	Red
April Remembered	6-10	6-8'	6-8'	Pink
Betty Sette	6-10	8-10'	8-10'	Rose pink
Black Tie	7-9	7'	4'	Dark red
Colonel Firey	8-10	6-8'	6-8'	Dark red
Debutante	8-10	6-8'	6-8'	Light pink
Glen 40	8-10	6-8'	6-8'	Deep red
Goggy	7-8	5-6'	4-6'	Light pink
Kramer's Supreme	8-10	6-8'	6-8'	Rosey red
Kumasaka	8-10	6-8'	6-8'	Rose pink
Kuro Delight	6-9	5-6'	5-6'	Red
Mathotiana Supreme	8-10	6-8'	6-8'	Crimson
Nuccio's Gem	8-10	6-8'	6-8'	White
Swan Lake	8-10	6-8'	6-8'	White

Camellia Sasanqua Listing

Cultivar	Zone	Height	Width	Bloom Color
Apple Blossom	7-10	10'	10'	White with pink
Bonanza	7-10	4-5'	4-5'	Scarlet
Chansonnete	7-10	2-3'	8'	Brilliant pink
Cleopatra	7-9	15'	8'	Rosey pink
Daydream	7-9	15'	8'	White with pink
Elaine Lee	6-10			White
Kanjiro	7-10	8-10'	8-10'	Pink
Londontowne Blush	6-10	4-5'	4-5'	Pale pink
Marge Miller	7-10	0-1'	0-4'	Pink
Northern Lights	7-9	8'	3'	White with pink
Pink Icicle	7-9	10-12'	8-10'	Pale pink
Setsugekka	7-10	8-10'	8-10'	White
Shishi Gashira	7-10	4-5'	6-8'	Hot pink
Sparkling Burgundy	7-9	10-12'	8-10'	Purplish red
White Doves	7-10	4-5'	4-5'	White
Yuletide	7-10	8-10'	8-10'	Fiery red
Snow Flurry*	6-10	10-12'	8-10'	White
Winter's Beauty*	6-10	10-12'	8-10'	Pink
Winter's Charm*	6-10	7'	5'	Lavender
Winter's Fancy*	6-10	4-6'	4-6'	Pink
Winter's Interlude*	6-10	6'	4'	Pink
Winter's Joy*	6-10	6'	6'	Pink
Winter's Snowman*	6-10	8-10'	5'	White
Winter's Star*	6-10	7'	4'	Lavender

* = Hybrid cross but blooms in the fall.