Camellia sasanqua ‘Chansonette’

Camellia 'Chansonette' (Camellia sasanqua 'Chansonette') is the low, wide sasanqua for gardeners who want a hedge under head height. It settles at about 2m tall and 2m across with an arching, spreading habit, and covers itself in bright pink formal double flowers through autumn and into winter. The same habit makes it one of the easiest camellias to espalier flat against a wall.

Why you'll love it

• Bright pink double flowers. Neat, layered blooms from autumn into winter, at the time of year when most gardens have nothing to show.
• A hedge that stays low. At roughly 2m by 2m it screens a fence line without blocking a window or shading the bed behind it.
• Shade tolerant and hardy. Frost hardy, wind tolerant and salt tolerant, and content in part shade where flowering hedges usually struggle.
• Safe around pets. Not toxic to cats or dogs, and the open centres of the flowers feed bees.

Where it works best

Low hedging and screening. Plant 1m apart in a single row for a dense hedge. It fills sideways readily, so a single row is enough and there is no need to crowd it.

Retaining walls and slopes. Set 1m apart along the top of a wall, the arching branches soften the edge and the roots help hold a bank together.

Pots and espalier. A pot 500mm or wider works on a courtyard. Against a wall or fence, tie the long flexible growth to wires for a flat, flowering espalier.

Growing Camellia 'Chansonette' in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade, with morning sun and afternoon shade the best combination in subtropical and hot inland gardens. It suits subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens and is frost hardy once established. Skip it for the wet tropics and arid inland.

Soil. Slightly acidic and free draining, with compost worked through the backfill. On clay, plant on a raised mound. Mulch 75mm deep and clear of the stem, because camellia roots run shallow and dislike drying out.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first two summers, then moderate watering. Do not let it dry out in late summer, when next season's buds are forming. Feed a camellia and azalea fertiliser once flowering finishes.

Pruning. Trim right after flowering. Because it spreads more than it climbs, most pruning is about controlling width rather than height. It is slow growing, so one trim a year is usually plenty.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes as tube stock, in packs of six 200mm pots or three 250mm pots, and as single 300mm plants. Tubes and 200mm plants are young and single stemmed, and take about three years to read as a hedge, which makes them the sensible choice when you need quantity. A 300mm plant is already branched and screens much sooner.

A few dropped buds or leaves after transit is normal. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• A full guide to growing camellia bushes
• See the rest of the camellia range
• Plants that suit retaining walls and slopes
• How to train an espalier against a wall

Common questions

How far apart do I plant it for a hedge?

One metre apart in a single row. It spreads readily to fill the gaps, and tighter spacing only makes the mature hedge harder to feed and water.

How tall will it actually get?

Around 2m tall and 2m wide left alone, and it is easily held lower with one trim a year after flowering. It is not the camellia to choose if you want a 3m screen.

Will it grow in a shady spot?

Yes. Part shade suits it and the foliage stays a better colour, though flowering is heaviest with a few hours of direct sun. Deep shade is too dark.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes, in a pot 500mm or wider with free draining acidic mix. Expect it to settle nearer 1.2m, and water more often than in the ground.