About
A vertical evergreen shrub reaching up to 3.5 meters in height. The leaves are glossy and oval-shaped, initially showing a bronze-red hue before turning dark green as they mature. During late winter to early spring, it produces single, rose-red flowers of small to medium size. The red buds resemble candles, providing notable winter interest.
About the genus
Camellia consists of evergreen shrubs featuring smooth, oval leaves that are glossy and leathery. These plants produce prominent flowers, which may appear either singly or in clusters, primarily in the early part of the year.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full shade, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- North-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H5
Plant details
- Plant type
- Shrubs
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 2.5-4 metres
- Spread
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 10-20 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Suitable for woodland and acidic soils. Position in a site sheltered from cold, dry winds and early morning sun as buds and flowers may be damaged by cold winds and late frosts see camellia cultivation
- Pruning
- Pruning group 8
- Propagation
- Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to aphids, scale insects and vine weevil
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), phytophthora root rot, camellia gall, camellia leaf blight, camellia yellow mottle virus and flowers and camellia petal blight