Autumn Flowering Camellia (Camellia sasanqua) A Complete Growing Guide
How to grow Autumn Flowering Camellia sasanqua
Key Facts:
Height: Generally 3-4m, although there are compact varieties available.
Light: Best in sun with dappled shade, not facing morning sun.
Soil: Ericaceous soil is essential.
Special Features: Lovely showy shrub with glossy leaves and saucer-type flowers in autumn. H5 hardy.
I have tagged the autumn-flowering Camellia sasanqua Amber Wheelbarrow', reflecting that it is medium difficulty to grow. That's because it is fussy: planted in a position that is not east-facing, in ericaceous soil, with rainwater for watering, well-drained soil, and dappled shade.
We think of Camellia as spring-flowering, and that’s correct. However, there is a group of beautiful autumn- and winter-flowering Camellias called Camellia sasanquas. Like their spring-flowering cousins, these Camellias also have glossy evergreen foliage and bright flowers in shades of pink, red, and white, ideal to lift the gloom of a dull autumn day.
Like all Camellia, these shrubs are fussy. Plant C. sasanquas grows in acid soil. If your soil is not naturally acidic, plant sasanquas in a container with ericaceous compost.
In addition, this autumn-flowering Camellia will perform best when watered with acidic water from rainwater collection.
C. sasanqua is more tolerant of drier conditions and will grow in both semi-shade and (unlike the spring flowering variety) in full sun. In fact, it is said they flower best in sun, C. sasanqua is much less of a woodland shrub than the spring-flowering varieties. As with all Camellias, shade from the early morning sun and frost which helps to preserve the blooms. This variety of Camellia is also best planted in a sheltered spot away from cold winds. Mulch in winter.
Acidic soil is essential, without which the foliage turns yellow and will appear pale.
The original varieties of C. sasanquas were not fully hardy, and pure C. sasanquas are not fully hardy, but there are now several lovely, and even scented, varieties, which are fully hardy H4 but require a sheltered position. This variety of Camellia will flower from October to December.
Popular varieties of Camellia sasanqua
Popular varieties to grow are 'Maiden's blush' illustrated top left, a large shrub that can reach 4m in 10-20 years. It grows well in sun or semi-shade and has delicately scented flowers.
Camellia sasanqua 'Strawberry Swirl' has light pink flowers with a central yellow boss. Evergreen, upright growth it will mature to around 4m.
Camellia 'Yuletide' illustrated above centre, as the name suggests, is usually in bloom for Christmas. Rich red flowers, with gold boss and glossy evergreen leaves, it is an ideal Christmas shrub.
There is a range of sizes, including those suitable for hedges.
Prefer your Camellia flowering in the spring? Check out How to Grow Camellia, tips, planting advice and images.
When to prune Autumn flowering Camellia sasanquas
The time to prune this type of Camellia is after it has finished flowering. This is likely to be late December/January. Always pick a mild day for pruning.
Deadheading Camellia will help to prolong the flowering display.
You can prune this type of Camellia easily and shape it for garden displays. You can prune it into a standard shape, prune the lower branches to lift the canopy, train it against a wall and prune it to keep it to size in its allotted space. You can also prune and clip this type of Camellia into a hedge.
It will also recover well from a hard renovative prune. If you inherit an overgrown or sickly C. sasanquas, hard prune it.
How to Grow Camellia sasanqua in a container
You can grow Camellia sasanqua in a container. Because it's quite a fussy shrub, the same rules apply to get it to grow well in a container. Choose a good-sized container, fill with Ericaceous soil. Place the container in sun or partial shade but away from the east rising sun's rays, which can damage the flowers. (Here is a link to the main Camellia page, which shows the effect of morning sun on the blooms.) Place the container in a sheltered spot. When growing Camellia sasanqua in a container, there is an increased risk that the roots could freeze. To protect, wrap the container in fleece to protect it over winter.
Water well to get established, and as the shrub is in a container, it will be more prone to drying out and will require more frequent watering, with rainwater from a water butt.
There are compact varieties ideal for container planting, such as C. sasanqua 'Fuji-no-yuki' pure white double flowers 1.5 x 1m. and Yuletide illustrated above, red flowers, good in containers 1.1m available from Suttons (affiliate link)