How to Grow Camellias

Camellia is an evergreen, spring flowering shrub with lovely, roselike flowers in a range of beautiful colours. 

Camellias are not the easiest shrub to grow, and the saying "Right plant, right place" is crucial when growing Camellias. It is essential to plant Camellias in correct the soil type, which is ericaceous (i.e. acid.) Camellias belong to the group of acid loving shrubs, which also includes Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Pieris, and many woodland shrubs which will only thrive in acid soil. 

The hardiness of Camellia varies from fully hardy, to slightly tender, and the latter types need winter protection. Check the label for information and also an explanation of what frost hardy means.

Camellia shrubs range in size from 1-20 metre. Most offered for sale on line and in garden centres are medium-sized and slow growing, up to a few metres. Camellias are evergreen, the foliage is attractive and glossy, which is an additional reason to include them in a mixed border. Camellias flower in the spring, the flowers are very attractive as the images show and colours are predominantly shades of red, pink, white and occasionally yellow. There are also many variegated Camellia, as illustrated above right.

Crocus has over 60 varieties of Camellia on sale with beautiful flowers and foliage. Including Camellia × williamsii 'E.G. Waterhouse' Lovely variegated Camellia japonica 'William Bartlett'.

Camellias are tricky to grow because they are fussy. When planting, do not plant too deep, the root ball should be level with the earth. Camellias must have acid soil, otherwise they will not thrive and flower. If your soil is not acid, you can only grow Camellia in a container, fortunately Camellia makes a good container shrub. Trying to change the pH of garden soil is not a good idea. It is essential to fill the container with ericaceous (acid) compost and feed only with ericaceous feed. Camellias like moist, well-drained acid soil, in partial sun, (not full sun)  and away from cold winds in a sheltered spot, and not facing East. 

If that is not enough, Camellia will also benefit from a nice leaf mulch, being a woodland plant.

The image below shows the two most common problems with Camellias: Unsightly browning of the blooms, and yellowing leaves. The most common cause of yellow leaves is that the soil is insufficiently acid. In which case either re plant in a container, or feed with ericaceous feed and don't use tap water. Wet and windy weather can turn the lovely blooms brown. 

Another problem is that sometimes Camellias fail to flower. When this occurs, it is always worth trying an ericaceous feed in the spring and early summer. Flower drop can also be a problem if it is dry in the spring and summer, water well to prevent flower drop. A mulch will help to preserve moisture. It's best to avoid watering with tap water because it contains calcium, which reduces the acidity. It is important to feed Camellias only with ericaceous feed and early in the year. 

In case you are struggling with growing Camellia, take heart from the image below. I took this at a very well known, prestigious garden and the shrubs are looking far from ideal. It's not as easy as it sometimes looks.

Camellias do not need routine pruning. However, if a Camellia has become too large for its allotted space, it can be pruned and if necessary,  pruned hard. As always, timing is important. Remember the buds on a Camellia form in summer and autumn. This means if you are to avoid cutting off the buds, you must prune just after flowering in the spring. There is no specific requirement to prune and they will happily carry on growing without it.

If a Camellia becomes overgrown, it can be hard pruned and will regrow.  As with all renovative pruning, if you are pruning very hard, it may be best undertaken over 2/3 growing seasons. To carry out a renovating prune, cut back hard by about 1/3 to 1/2  in late winter or early spring. It follows the shrub will not flower, perhaps for the next couple of years. A lot of new growth will be thrown out. Thin out/prune again so that the shrub develops several sturdier branches to form the framework going forwards.

Having said all of that, once established in the right place, a Camellia will happily get on with the business of growing and flowering with little attention; the trick is to plant it in the right place and soil to start with. 

If you like Camellias but your growing conditions are not ideal, you can grow Camellias in containers. To grow in a container, it may be more manageable to select a smaller variety and a good-sized container filled with ericaceous compost. Mix into the compost some ericaceous fertiliser, slow release for one season or feed with ericaceous feed. Water with rainwater. A camellia in a pot will require repotting into a large container with fresh ericaceous compost as it develops. If you do not repot top dress, which is to scrape away the top 5cms of compost from the top of the container and replenish with fresh ericaceous compost. In the winter elevate from the ground to protect from frost using bricks. Place in a sheltered spot away from direct sunlight. 

  Camellia x williamsii 'Donation' large pink semi-double flowers which flowers  from late winter to mid-spring; 5m x 2.5m, will grow in a shaded position and is more hardy than Camellia japonica 'Adolphe Audusson which has bright red flowers in early spring,  5m x 4m

  Camellia 'Cornish Snow' small, white single flowers in late winter; 3m x 1.5m. H4 rating 

Also : Camellia japonica 'Tricolor' which as the name suggests blooms are white, striped red and pink. C x williamsii 'Brigadoon' semi double rose pink blooms. C. Japonica 'Elegans' large rose pink flowers.

I rather like to bold red of C. 'Drama girl' illustrated below.