Betty Montgomery: Camellia sasanquas make good fall shrubs

Fall is in the air and with fall comes lovely fall color and beautiful sasanquas blossoms. Sasanquas are the fall flowering type of camellias. The bushes have handsome glossy green leaves that glisten in the sunlight and lovely white, pink, red or fuchsia blooms that can fill a bush during the fall of the year.

There are many species of camellias. The ones that are grown the most are camellia japonica that mainly blooms after Christmas, and camellia sasanquas, which tend to bloom in the fall. Both of these lovely plants have been grown and enjoyed for centuries. Many people considered them a plant only for the South but in recent years this has changed. William Ackerman and Charles Parks have worked diligently to have varieties available that will take more cold weather and perform beautifully in USDA Zone 6.

Sasanquas can grow 2- to 3-feet tall or can be found 15-feet tall, depending on the variety. They like well-drained acidic soil that has been amended with compost and will take full shade but they will also take more sun than camellia japonicas. Because most shrubs bloom in the spring and summer, sasanquas stand out with their fall flowers, blooming when other shrubs are sleeping away.

Fall blooming camellias are moderately drought tolerant. Once they are established they will need very little extra water if some clay is present to hold some water. However, if they are in sand, they might need additional water during times of low rainfall.

Spend some time and look around to find the right sasanqua for you. There are lower growing varieties that mature to 5 feet or less. There are also many varieties that will reach much taller if they are not pruned. I have seen lovely plants that have made a spectacular, thick hedge for privacy as well as beauty and there are handsome ones used as a specimen plant or focal point in a garden.

One of the most important things to consider when planting camellias is good drainage. These plants could get root rot if the drainage is not good when planted in a soggy area. They prefer soil that is high in humus content and slightly acidic. To prepare the soil, use rotting leaves or other humus material.

Sasanquas like some protection from wind and afternoon sun. However, sasanquas will grow in full sun, which is different from the camellia japonicas. I have seen sasanqua hedges in full sun and that looks stunning.

To plant, dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball. It is important to have the root ball about 1 inch above the ground surface because camellias like their roots to have some air and if planted too deep, the plant will become smothered. This also allows for settling of the plant.

It is most important to water after planting to get the dirt to settle around the roots and to remove any air pockets. Water is needed until the plant is fully established which I consider to be about a year. Good deep watering is essential, letting the water seep into the ground and not just a little water to wet the surface.

The best time to plant is early fall or spring. In warm areas they can be planted all winter long but the farther north you go, fall and spring are more ideal. Summertime planting means you will need a lot more water going to the plant.

It is best not to fertilize immediately after planting. Let the plant settle in first and wait until the first signs of new growth. I mix up Cottonseed meal, dehydrated cow manure in equal proportions and add a little epsom salt to feed my sasanquas. There are commercial fertilizers especially formulated for camellias that are worth trying, too. If you use 10-10-10 or triple 17, use it sparingly. You do not want to burn the roots. If it is dry, it is a good idea to water the plant well before adding fertilizer. Sasanquas like to be fed from spring to end of June.

If you are looking for a sasanqua that blooms early, you might try Cleopatra, Rosea, Apple Blossom, Cotton Candy, Northern Lights or Hiryu. If you want a later bloom you might want to look for Autumn Sun, Yuletide, Pink Snow, Autumn Breeze or Autumn Sunrise.

Varieties that make good hedges are more upright and fast growing. A few to consider are Pink Serenade, Yoimachi, Autumn Rocket, Winter’s Snowman, Northern Lights or Jean May. You will love the look of a dense, evergreen hedge that comes into bloom.

How about using sasanquas for a ground cover; Marge Miller (a Monrovia cultivar) is the first prostrate camellia in the world. It will drape over a wall or cover the ground. It has soft pink flowers that are fragrant, a rarity. The blooms appear in the fall against the deep-green, glossy foliage. It is not quite as cold hardy as some others.

Your local garden centers can help you find what you want. Camellias are long lived and they will out live you if you give them a little care.

Betty Montgomery, a master gardener and author of a Four Season Southern Garden, can be reached at bmontgomery40@gmail.com.