Camellia japonica
Camellia Theaceae Tea Family
Native from India to China and Japan
Camellia japonica is hardy to zero degrees, which includes USDA
Zones 7, 8, 9 and 10. It does well along the coast and inland, but it
does best away from hot, sunny locations. Give it the filtered shade
of a lath house in the hottest areas. They are ideal shrubs for areas
of bright open shade, such as areas with northern exposure.
Camellias are large shrubs or small trees. They can grow to 20 feet
high and wide. They are usually pruned to a maximum height of 6 to 8
feet with a lesser spread in the home garden. Most grow at a slow to
moderate rate.
Camellia flowers vary in size from 3 to 6 inches. Color ranges from
white to pink to red and include variegations. Flowers bloom from
November to March with the peak of bloom in January and February, a
time when flowers are very welcome in the garden. Keep fallen flowers
raked up; they can perpetuate petal blight.
The leaves of camellias have a bright green color and a leathery
texture. They are shaped like broad ellipses with serrate margins.
Their beautiful evergreen foliage and sturdy gray branches make
camellias an asset to the garden even when they are not blooming.
Camellias need a well drained soil rich in organic matter. Regular
watering is required. Water deeply once a week in summer at the coast,
twice a week inland. Fertilize with acid food and iron on Memorial
Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day. Do not over-fertilize. This
can cause leaf burn in spots or at the margins.
Prune camellias just following bloom. Remove branches if plant is
becoming too thick. If plant is thin, cut back last year's growth by
removing the light colored part of the stems. This will force several
buds below the cut and allow the plant to grow more densely.
There are six different forms of camellia flowers. This flower form is
called formal double. The petals overlap perfectly symetrically.
© 1997 by Jim Clatfelter.
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