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Features
White, double flowers with some yellow shading. Glossy dark to mid-green, evergreen leaves with serrated edges and a sharp tip.
What to use it for
Can be grown as a wall shrub or in a container, as well as a border or specimen plant. Could also be used to create an informal hedge or in a woodland setting.
Camellias are typical cottage garden style plants, but are striking enough to be used in more urban gardens.
How to look after it
This is a pretty low maintenance plant, just needing pruning as required. If late frosts are expected, or very cold winter temperatures, it would benefit from protection such as a fleece covering.
How to prune it
If you wish you can deadhead your camellia regularly (daily if possible) to remove the unsightly, browning older flowers.
Prune Camellia japonica during or just after flowering in the spring.
To train a young camellia to be a bushier plant, cut all long, leggy stems back to 2 to 3 buds, removing any weak stems entirely.
Once established, if the plant becomes very bushy, you can remove some of the smaller inner branches to allow more light to reach the centre of the plant. You can also prune the previous season’s growth back to just above the old wood to encourage a bushy habit and/or to restrict the size.
Generally Camellia japonica and its cultivars will respond well (though slowly) to renovation pruning. In early spring cut 1/3 of the main branches back to 60cm above ground level. Repeat this in the two subsequent springs until all the main branches have been cut back. A mass of new shoots will appear from the pruned areas – thin these out to create a new framework. Don’t worry if the new shoots don’t appear until midsummer, this is normal!
How to propagate it
Can be propagated from internodal or nodal semi-ripe cuttings from midsummer to early autumn. Nodal cuttings will produce flowers more quickly, in 3 to 4 years.
Hardwood cuttings may also be taken in autumn to late winter. Pinch out the flower buds on the cutting and give it bottom heat of 12-20˚C for 6 to 12 weeks until rooted.
Simple layering can also be effective. In spring, layer a low-growing shoot which is maximum 12mm in diameter and allow 2 years for rooting to take place before severing and lifting the new plant.
Seeds can be collected and sown as soon as the fleshy fruits split open. Alternatively, sow them in spring after soaking in hot water. Any resulting plants may not come true to form.
Camellias may also be hybridised.
Common problems
Camellia flower blight can be a problem, particularly in areas with high temperature and humidity. Viral diseases, honey fungus and leaf spot can also occur.
Camellias may be attacked by aphids, scale insects and vine weevil.
Chlorosis of the leaves may occur if the soil is lacking in nutrients such as iron.
Other useful information
The genus Camellia was named by Carl Linnaeus after the Jesuit Priest Joseph Camel.
The camellia was first brought to the West in 1692 by Englbert Keampter, Chief Surgeon to the Dutch East India Company. He brought details of over 30 varieties back from Asia.
