These low-maintenance shrubs add interest to the garden during the dreariest months of the year
Would you like elegant , long - lasting blooms to bring indoors in the midsection of wintertime ? Or possibly you ’ve been longing to add sonority , colour , and beauty to your late - winter landscape ? I ’ve incur a in truth delicious solution for you — plant acamellia ! Hardy , long - lived , and fantastic additions to any landscape , camellias ( Camelliaspp . and cvs . , Zones 5–9 ) are easy - to - raise , low - maintenance tree and shrubs that not only blossom profusely when little else is in bloom , but also provide structure and presence with evergreen , glossy , deep greenish foliage .
wintertime is the perfect time to buy and found a camellia . Most garden center and nurseries are well - buy in with mythical choices from declination through winter , and many change will even be in bloom , so you’re able to see exactly what will be gracing your garden for eld to come in . When selecting your camelia , guess not just about bloom vividness and efflorescence form but also about outgrowth wont , with particular attending to the plant ’s mature tiptop . That barren trivial camellia , even though it might be considered a somewhat sluggish grower , may soon reach a height that crowds out other plant or occlude a view from your window .
Camellia bloom times vary depending on the variety you opt . Generally speaking , in Northern California , C. sasanquavarieties tend to bloom from midfall to early winter , whileC. japonicavarieties flower from midwinter to leaping ; hybrid can bloom at either time depending on the particular variety .
Tips and tricks camellia-growing success
In Northern California , camellias opt a localisation away from a westerly exposure and shaded from the hottest afternoon sun . They perform beautifully when grown under the mottled shade of a tall tree , or in an eastern United States - facing , morning time sun location . They ’re susceptible to sunscald if unprotected , so keep this in mind when finding that perfect spot . Camellias also go well plant in containers as long as the containers are expectant and are placed in a shaded location .
Camellias do substantially when embed in well - drained territory rich in organic matter with a pH between 6 and 6.5 . At planting prison term , dig a golf hole that is twice as extensive as the root ball of your fresh camellia and just as deep . Place your camelia in the center of the muddle , with the top of the root Lucille Ball sit a span inches above grade . occupy in around the flora , and distribute a thin stratum of organic mulch over the top to conserve moisture and keep the weeds at bay . Until your camellia is fully establish , water regularly . A matured camellia is deep root and can be surprisingly drought resistant .
camelia do n’t really need pruning , except to tidy up up , shape , remove bring out branches , or to keep within bounds . The secure time to do this is immediately after they have finished blossoming , as pruning any by and by may ensue in losing some of the following year ’s flowering bud .
Favorite high-impact camellia varieties
The be are a few camellias that I ’ve had success with over the years . Chances are there is variety that will suit your need and need .
‘Apple Blossom’ camellia
( C. sasanqua‘Apple Blossom ’ , Zones 7–10 )
The juicy pink bud of this camellia undetermined up to refined , more or less informal , semi - double flower . The blooms are made up of pink - blush and pink - edged pearly white petals , and they are centered with a prominent bunch of golden stamen . A moderate grower at 10 feet marvelous and wide-cut , this variety heyday almost ceaselessly from October to January in Northern California .
‘April Dawn’ camellia
( C. japonica‘April Dawn ’ , zone 6–9 )
This camellia ’s gravid , fragrant , ivory blooms are splashed and bare with garden pink . Each peak evaluate 3 to 4 inches across . These heyday are entirely enchanting , brighten up the shade garden and bouquets ! This dependable rugged bush has an upright growth habit , reaching 6 to 8 feet tall and 6 feet all-embracing . Its bloom time is December to March .
‘Shishi Gashira’ camellia
( C. sasanqua‘Shishi Gashira ’ , Zones 7–10 )
Lustrous , evergreen , thick - green foliage clothes the almost weeping branches of this camellia . The foliage contrast beautifully with the dazzlingly lustrous , golden - centre , hot - pink blooms . A lower - spring up , propagate variety , ‘ Shishi Gashira ’ makes an first-class front - of - the - fishy - borderline plant , centerpiece for a container , or foundation staple fiber . It gain 4 to 5 feet in superlative at maturity date and spreads 6 to 8 feet wide .
‘Swan Lake’ camellia
( C. sasanqua‘Swan Lake ’ , Zones 7–9 )
Stunning , bad , snow - snowy , almost peony - like blossom enshroud this beautiful bush from December through January , with glossy fleeceable leafage offer a beautiful line . The outstanding blossoms are a adorable summation to a wintertime redolence and totally gorgeous when floated in a shallow bowling ball . you’re able to look this bush to reach 6 to 8 feet tall and 6 feet broad ( or larger ) at maturity .
‘Debutante’ camellia
( C. japonica‘Debutante ’ , Zones 8–10 )
With its multitude of frilled , peony - same blooms in a gorgeous shade of jolly pink , this other ( late fall to winter ) bungle make a delicious and elegant add-on to any shade garden or stout container . Particularly happy in milder regions , ‘ Debutante ’ is easy to raise , slowly reaching up to 10 feet tall at maturity and just as wide .
To see a drift of other sensational camellia varieties , click here .
— Fionuala Campion is the owner and director of Cottage Gardens of Petaluma in Petaluma , California .
exposure : Fionuala Campion
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Camellias offer appeal in every season. The evergreen foliage of this large shrub/small tree is stunning year-round, but in winter it’s the gorgeous blossoms that attract all the attention.
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Late fall and winter is a great time to shop for camellias. During this slow period, most garden centers will be fully stocked with plenty of choices when it comes to habit and flower color.
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‘Apple Blossom’ is delicate and refined. The two-tone flowers of this variety are particularly eye-catching.
If you want to make a statement, plant ‘Shishi Gashira’. The large pink blossoms in shocking pink adorn the spreading habit for weeks in winter.
Sometimes simple is best. Elegant ‘Swan Lake’ is a classic beauty with pure white blossoms that last for a long time in a vase.
Nope, it’s not a peony. The blossoms of ‘Debutante’ camellia are a doppelganger of ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ peonies.
