How to Grow Camellias

The types of camellias that you can find in garden centers and online include:

• Camellia japonica shrubs flower in pink, white and red. The leaves are glossy, rounded and leathery. Camellia japonica shrubs bloom in winter, usually December to March in mild climates.
• Camellia sasanqua's leaves are smaller than japonica varieties'. Sasanqua shrubs can typically handle more sun than japonica varieties. Camellia sasanqua shrubs are most notable for blooming from fall into winter, just as most of the garden plants head into a dormant season.
• Two other types of camellias include camellia reticulata and camellia sinensis. Camellia reticulata features large flowers and can be found as an understory tree in woodlands. Camellia sinensis is the tea camellia. Its leaves are harvested for green, black and oolong teas.

Most gardeners have a choice between camellia japonica and camellia sasanqua. While there's room for both in many gardens, the choice often comes down to your local weather.

To protect your plants when frost threatens your area, you want to choose early blooming sasanqua and late blooming japonica varieties. The early sasanqua will bloom before the first frost in fall in your zone and the late japonica will avoid the worst of late freezes in your area.

Tip: If your garden is in the "shoulders" of cold hardiness, try siting the camellia in a spot where it's protected from drying winter winds and give it plenty of mulch to help it retain water in cold weather.

The most favorable locations for camellias to thrive are in zones 7 to 9 (USDA). Some hybrids are proven to be hardy in zone 6. (Always check the plant label for planting zones and other attributes.) The best time to plant camellias is in the spring or fall seasons. For zone 9, plant camellias in the spring so the root system is established before the arrival of colder, fall weather. You'll want to avoid planting camellias during the hottest summer months.

If growing outdoors, choose the right spot. Camellias do better in light, partial shade, out of the hot afternoon sun and in well-drained soil. They need shelter from winter winds and extreme temperatures. The best place to plant camellias is under the shade of tall trees or on the north side of a house.

Camellias require organically rich, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. An ideal soil pH for camellias exists within the 6.0 to 6.5 range. This plant does not do well in alkaline soils, which can lead to yellowing leaves. If your soil is alkaline, adding peat moss during the planting will make the soil more acidic. Routine applications of acidic amendments may be needed as the plant grows.

Tip: A soil test by a local extension office will provide recommendations for optimizing the pH of your soil.

Camellias are available in many cultivar varieties. Smaller cultivars can be potted in large containers filled with a good moisture-retentive potting soil mix. If you are using a container without a drainage hole, layer pebbles or other materials at the bottom of the container to help prevent root rot. Before transplanting the potted camellia plant to a container:

• Lop off the taproot to help the plant grow a wider, more fibrous root system.
• Add a few inches of pebbles or rocks to the bottom of the container for better drainage.
• Fill with a good potting soil mix. Avoid using garden soil, which is meant for in-ground use.
• Larger planters need less soil if you add pebbles and other layers to the bottom of the pot.

Larger variety of shrubs typically have deep taproots and are best grown in ground:

• Choose the right plant for the spot. Plant sizes range from low and spreading to tall and tree-like.
• Dig a wide, shallow hole at least 2-feet wider than the root ball. Remove weeds, tree roots and stones.
• Place plant in hole and cover with soil up to the base of the trunk. Planting too deep can kill a camellia.
• Build a shallow saucer of soil with a 3-inch lip around the perimeter of the hole to contain water.
• Water the plant in the saucer. Gently tamp soil down to eliminate air pockets.
• Top with 2 to 3 inches of mulch. Do not mound mulch around the trunk in a volcano shape, this will kill your shrub.
• Give the plant a good soaking at least once a week if conditions are dry.

Water: For more blooms and less pest infestation, camellias need to be consistently moist. Twice-a-week watering is a good watering schedule. Surround the plant with a 3-inch layer of mulch to retain moisture and moderate the soil temperature.

Fertilizer: Fertilize camellias several weeks after planting. Feed camellias with a nitrogen-rich, slow-release fertilizer. You’ll want to apply fertilizer three times a year: early spring, late spring and mid-summer.

Pruning: Prune shrubs or trees after blooming has ended. You can remove dead branches at any time during the year. When pruning, cut top growth to make the plant bushier; shorten lower branches to encourage thicker, upright growth.

Tip: After cool, damp weather, you may notice that some leaves on your camellias are white and swollen. If left alone, the leaves will harden and turn brown. The growths are galls caused by a fungus that affects just camellias. Best practice is to use sharp pruners to cut off the stem with the gall. Dispose of the gall in a plastic bag in your trash. Do not compost the infected material. Wipe down your pruners with a disinfectant or isopropyl alcohol.