Types of Camellia and how to grow & care for Camellias

This beautiful, blooming shrub likes a southern climate.

The common camellia (Camellia japonica) is even the state flower of Alabama. Although it seems that these evergreen flowering shrubs, which suit our areas so well, must have been born here, they actually come from East and South Asia. The family of camellias – Theaceae – give us beautiful flowers in the colder months and it’s members are considered tea.

There are more than 3,000 named species of
camellias in an extraordinary range of colors, shapes and sizes. They are not grazed by deer, which is another plus for living outside in the south. These beautiful shrubs - some grow a foot per year to eventually form a small tree - can be planted from fall to early spring in southern gardens.

Camellia care

As for planting time, spring or fall are good for most areas. Spring is better in the upper south, where the root system needs time to establish before the onset of cold weather. Thoroughly mulch to keep the roots cool and the soil moist. Regular watering is critical in the first year, after which they can tolerate occasional dry weather. Plant them well in good quality soil and they will give you years of enjoyment with little effort. Camellias make a beautiful screen at the edge of your property or a striking specimen plant; Remember that if you plant it near the house, pruning can become a regular chore.

Light

In general, camellias grow and flower best in filtered light or partial shade, protected from the hot afternoon sun. This is especially true for young plants growing in the shade of tall trees or if they grow on the north side of the house. As they grow and shade their dense canopy of leaves and cool their roots, they will gradually accept more sun. In winter shade protects trees from cold damage in the upper south. sasanqua can tolerate more sun hours than C. japonica, but still prefers some protection in the afternoon hours. Camellias can bloom all day in dappled sunlight, but deep shade can result in thin leaves and fewer flowers.

Floor

To be grown best camellias like organically rich, well drained, slightly acidic soil. Add organic matter when needed to improve soil texture or drainage. This plant does not tolerate alkaline soil, which can lead to low iron absorption and yellowing of the leaves. If you know your soil is alkaline, adding peat moss when planting can make the soil more acidic. Have your soil tested by your local extension office and follow any recommendations to lower or raise your soil pH. Mulch around the plant to conserve moisture and adjust the soil temperature, but do not pile the soil on top of the camellia roots.

Water

However, new plants need to be watered frequently during the first couple years. Strong, well shaped roots that are rooted plants (more than three years old) can stand a bit more water than others. Always remember to water them when the soil is well drained. But while buds form, supply additional water during drought. Moisten the entire root ball thoroughly; wait for some time before the top of the root ball dries a little and then water thoroughly again.

Temperature and Humidity

Camellias prefer to grow in warm, moist areas found in USDA plant hardiness zones 7 through 9, or in the Mid, Low, and Coastal South. Several species of tea-oil camellia (C. oleifera) and its hybrids can withstand winter temperatures in zone 6. Excessive or prolonged cold weather can cause bud drop in winter-blooming species.If you live on the edge of the upper south or close to the coast, protect them from strong winds. They cannot tolerate salt, so the coast is not ideal for planting camellias.

Fertilizer

Save fertilizer for acid-forming azaleas or camellias in the spring after the flowers have faded; fertilize again in late spring or mid-summer, when growth appears, or the leaves look sharp and start to lose their deep green color. Fill in the amount recommended on the label. Don't overdo it, because plants grown in fertile soil don't need much fertilizer - and never feed plants that are sick or in distress.

For fertilizing try March, early May or early July and pick a fertilizer that best suits your needs. For your younger camellias that you want to grow more, use a fertilizer that has a higher nitrogen such as 12-4-8 or 10-10-10, while mature camellias do not need as much nitrogen.

Types of Camellias Flower Plant

If you live in the upper or tropical south and have trouble growing camellias, take heart: now you can enjoy hybrids that thrive in extreme weather conditions in both regions. Here are some popular selections of species.

A. Camellia tea oil (C. oleifera): If you live in zone 6 (Upper South), C. oleifera and its hybrids will withstand temperatures as low as -15°F with little or no damage, provided they are protected from winter sun and wind:

'Polar Ice': The semi-double white flowers of this cold-hardy variety appear from mid-autumn to early winter.
'Winter Charme': This form of pink peony produces layered, called flowers from October to December.
'Winter Dream': Semi-double pink flowers surrounded by bright yellow stems. The long flowering period begins in October.
'Winter's Star': This hybrid has single pink flowers in autumn.
'Lu Shan Snow': This true tea-oil camellia has single white flowers in autumn and has attractive cinnamon-coloured bark. In the development of cold tolerant hybrids, 'Lu Shan', is often used.

B. Common camellia (C. japonica)

Also known as Japanese camellias, these shade-loving shrubs include selections that can do well in parts of Florida or as far north as zone 6. Nurseries sell a wide variety of common camellias in a wonderful array of colors, but here are a few popular ones . :

'Kramer's Supreme': Sweetly scented bright red flowers and this award winning, vintage variety is the flower of this great variety. The fully double, peony-shaped flowers appear in late winter to early spring.
'White By The Gate': The towering, pure white flowers of this shrub look formal enough for a wedding bouquet. Blooms from winter to spring.
'Debutante': This hardy variety can be grown in zones 8 to 10 in the tropical south, with peony-style flowers in a classic pale pink color.
'Professor Charles S. Sargent': Sometimes known as 'Professor Sargent', this is a vintage variety. The strongly ruffled, fully double red flowers appear in late winter to early spring.
'April' Series: Named for the time they typically bloom in the cool, northern part of their range, includes varieties such as 'April Blush', 'April Dawn' and 'April Tryst.' They are hardy to zone 6.

C. Sasanqua Camellia (C. sasanqua)

If you want to think outside the box, try fall-flowering camellias, also known as sasanqua camellias (C. sasanqua). This species grows more compact than normal camellias, reaching about 10-12 feet tall and wide at maturity. They produce beautiful, glossy, green leaves and large flowers just as the rest of the garden settles down for a long hibernation.

'Alabama Beauty': The ruffled, rose-red flowers of this Southern Living selection are some of the first to appear on fall-flowering camellias.
'Yuletide': Camellia 'Yuletide' can be grown as far south as zone 10 and produces single cherry blossoms in winter.
'October Magic': This fall-flowering series from the Southern Living Plant collection includes white, ruby, red rose, pink, crimson and deep pink varieties, often with double blooms.
'Shishi Gashira': This variety is known for its compact habit (no more than 5 m tall) and their warm pink, semi double flowers in autumn and early winter.

Cut off (Camellias Pruning)

Prune camellias shortly after flowering. Remove dead or weak wood; thin the growth if it is so dense that there is no room for the flowers to open properly. Trim the lower branches to stimulate upright growth; cut back the top growth to make slender bushes bushier. To prune, cut where you see the scar that marks the end of last year's growth (usually a thickened, sometimes slightly rough area where the bark texture and color change slightly). Pruning just above this point usually encourages the growth of three or four dominant buds.

Reproduction of Camellias

Like many woody shrubs, camellias can be propagated by stem cuttings. Wait until late spring or early summer after the flowers have finished and the new growth has begun to mature, then follow these steps:

Cut the fresh stem five or six leaf nodes from the top.
Cut the stem into 4-inch sections, with two rows of leaves on each section. Remove the lower formation of leaves.
Dip the tip of each cut in root hormone powder.
Place each cutting in a 4-inch pot filled with moist, light potting soil.
Cover each cutting with a clear plastic bag and place the cuttings in a warm place in bright, indirect light.
When the soil starts to dry out, moisture it. Your new camellias are ready to transplant when the roots have mostly filled the container. Depending on the time of year, you can move your cuttings to larger containers and continue to grow to a larger size before transplanting.
Harden off new plants outside before planting them in the garden.

How to grow camellias from seeds

Camellias do not grow from seed, which means that the resulting seedling often looks different from the mother plant. The American Camellia Society says top quality camellias are seldom produced from seed. However, if you want to try to grow one, collect the seeds when the shoots crack easily. Soak in water for 12 hours to promote germination. Sow seed in moist, high quality soil, peat moss or a mixture of peat moss and sand between July and September for early crops or May and June for mid season. Keep the soil moist and the seeds will germinate in a month (best results if planted immediately after harvest). After sprouting, the seedlings can be planted outside.

Planting and transplanting camellias

Camellias are excellent container plants, whether you grow them outdoors on a patio or indoors in a cool greenhouse. As a general rule, plant gallon-sized camellias in 12- to 14-inch containers and 5-gallon camellias in 16- to 18-inch containers. Fill the container with a potting mix that contains 50 percent or more organic material. Make sure the container has a large drainage hole.

Hibernation

To improve camellia winter hardiness, avoid fertilizing or pruning in late fall, as the plant can put out tender new growth just as temperatures drop. If you live in the upper south, plant in a location protected from strong winds. Camellias appreciate a layer of mulch to moderate temperature and soil moisture. While these plants can withstand temperatures down to 0 °C, late blooming camellias can lose flowers and buds due to severe freezing.

General pests and plant diseases

Tea scale is a common pest. These pests look like small brown or white dots on the underside of the leaves; sooty mold grows on the honey they secrete. Attacked leaves turn yellow and fall off. To treat tea scale, apply a horticultural oil or a systemic insecticide such as acephate (Orthene) or dimethoate (Cygon), according to label directions. If honey pests such as scale and aphids cause mold on the leaves, controlling the insect problem allows the mold to disappear over time.

Two fungal diseases are common. Camellia petal burn causes the flowers to turn brown quickly and then drop. Sanitation is the best control: remove all withered flowers, and infected flowers that are still on the plant. Remove and discard any existing mulch, then replace with a 1-inch layer of fresh mulch. Camellia leaf gall causes the leaves to become distorted, pale, thick and fleshy; they gradually turn white, then brown, and then fall off the plant. The best control is to remove and destroy the affected leaves.

Camellia dieback and cancer is one of the worst fungal diseases. The leaves suddenly turn yellow and wither, and the tips of the branches die. Gray spots may appear on the bark, which eventually develop into pitted wounds that girdle the stem. Avoid wounding the plant and remove diseased twigs a few centimeters below the wound area, disinfecting the pruning tool between cuts. Applying a copper-based fungicide can help.

How to get camellias to bloom

Bud drop is a common complaint. To some extent this is natural for all camellias (many set more buds than they can open), but it can also be caused by overwatering, summer drought or a sudden freeze. Water the new camellias well to encourage buds. Fertilizers with a high nitrogen content encourage the bushes to grow faster, but can reduce flowering. Also, make sure you position the plant so it gets the right amount of sunlight - trimming some branches to surrounding trees can allow more light to reach the plant if needed. And finally remember that pruning removes the flower buds of the plant if it is done too late in the year.

Common problems with Camellias

Camellias are hardy, long-lived shrubs that can last for years, withstanding the occasional effects of fungal infections and pests. By keeping your plant as healthy as possible, it can last for decades. Below is how to solve two of the most common plant problems.

1. Fried (Scorched) leaves : Burnt (Scorched) and bronzed areas on leaves usually indicate sunburn. Camellia leaves can also wilt or turn yellow in full sun. Plant in a shadier location and increase watering if the plant is often dry.

2. Yellow leaves : Chlorosis (yellow leaves with green veins) is a consequence of planting camellias in neutral or alkaline soil; To correct this, feed the plant with chelated iron and amend the soil with sphagnum peat moss and/or horticultural sulfur to adjust the pH. It is normal for some leaves to turn yellow and fall off the plant over the years. Sometimes magnesium deficiency can cause chlorosis; Test your soil and apply Epsom salt (usually 1 tablespoon per gallon of water) if recommended.

Common Questions

When do camellias bloom?
Cultivars of camellias bloom from late fall, through winter, and into early spring. Sasanqua camellias bloom in the early part of late fall to early winter, while Japanese camellias can bloom anytime from mid-winter to early spring.

Many camellias multiply or spread?
Camellias grow slowly, but can eventually spread up to 10 meters wide. They don't tend to spread by sucking, but their seeds can splash all over your garden.

Are camellias difficult to care for?
Camellias are easy to grow in the South, as long as you plant them in rich, well-drained soil, protected from afternoon sun. They do best with annual pruning and may occasionally require intervention due to fungal diseases, but these rarely cause serious problems.