Camellias

Sasanqua or japonica: the first decision

Sasanquas are the outdoor workhorses. They tolerate full sun once established, grow faster, flower from autumn into early winter and clip into dense hedges of 1.5m to 3m, which is why varieties like Setsugekka, Yuletide, Hiryu and Plantation Pink anchor so many Australian front gardens. Japonicas carry the show flowers: larger, often perfectly formal blooms from winter into spring, in whites, pinks, reds and striped forms such as Black Tie, Desire, Great Eastern and Brushfield's Yellow. They prefer dappled shade or morning sun and build slowly into a 2m to 4m shrub that will outlive the person who plants it.

The collection also includes the green tea plant, Camellia sinensis, the species tea is actually picked from, plus the camellia and azalea fertilisers that keep the whole family fed.

Where camellias grow well in Australia

Camellias suit far more of the country than their reputation suggests. They are happiest from cool temperate to subtropical gardens: Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Tasmania all grow them well. Established plants are frost hardy, though a hard frost will brown flowers that are open on the day. The further north you garden, the more shade a japonica needs; in Brisbane give it solid afternoon protection, while sasanquas take the sun in their stride. In Perth and Adelaide the real limitation is alkaline soil rather than climate, so grow them in pots of azalea and camellia mix or build up an acidified bed. In the true tropics flowering is unreliable, and a gardenia will give you more.

Planting and soil

Camellias want acidic, free draining soil around pH 5.5 to 6.5 with plenty of organic matter, the same bed conditions as azaleas, which is why the two are traditionally planted together. Plant with the root ball at or slightly above soil level, never buried deeper, water in well and mulch 50mm to 75mm keeping mulch off the stem. Water deeply twice a week through the first summer. For a sasanqua hedge, space plants 75cm to 1m apart and expect a clipped 1.5m to 2m hedge within three to four years. In pots, use a 40cm or larger container, a quality azalea and camellia mix, and a position with morning sun.

Care through the year

Feed once flowering finishes with a camellia and azalea fertiliser, and again lightly in midsummer. Keep water up through late summer and autumn while next season's buds are forming, because drought at bud set is the main reason camellia buds drop unopened. Prune straight after flowering, before the new flush hardens: sasanqua hedges take regular clipping as happily as box, while japonicas need only shaping and the removal of crossing branches. If leaves turn sooty black, treat the scale insects underneath with horticultural oil and the mould starves.

Common questions

Why are my camellia buds dropping before they open?

Almost always water stress in late summer and autumn when the buds were forming, sometimes root disturbance or a sudden move. Mulch, deep water through dry spells and the problem usually disappears the following season.

Can I grow camellias in pots?

Very well, and in Perth and Adelaide it is often the best way. Use a 40cm to 60cm pot, azalea and camellia mix, morning sun and reliable water. Compact japonicas and the smaller sasanquas are the easiest long term potted subjects.

Which camellias make the best hedge?

Sasanquas, without much argument: fast enough to close at 75cm to 1m spacing, dense under clipping and in flower when the rest of the garden has finished. If you are comparing them against other evergreen hedges, the hedging and screening range puts the alternatives side by side.

Do camellias need full shade?

No. Deep shade gives you a healthy bush and very few flowers. Sasanquas flower best with at least half a day of sun; japonicas want morning sun or bright dappled light with protection from hot afternoon sun, especially north of Sydney.

How do camellias arrive?

As established container plants, delivered Australia wide with delivery from $29.95 and our 30 day healthy plant guarantee. Advanced specimen sizes are freighted at cost.