Weroona Camellia

Weroona Camellia (Camellia sasanqua 'Weroona') does two jobs at once: a formal evergreen hedge for most of the year, and a wall of deep rose red through autumn and early winter when the rest of the garden has gone quiet. It reaches about 3m tall and 2.5m wide untrimmed, clips readily to whatever height you want, and is not toxic to cats or dogs.

Why you'll love it

• Colour in the cold months. Deep rose red flowers open from autumn into winter, and the petals drop cleanly rather than browning.
• It clips beautifully. Small leaves and dense branching make it one of the better camellias for a formal hedge or a topiary shape.
• Sun tolerant for a camellia. Unlike the japonicas, an established sasanqua takes full sun, which opens up positions most camellias cannot handle.
• Frost hardy and wind tolerant. It handles cold winters and exposed positions, so it works from subtropical gardens through to cool temperate ones.
• Pet friendly. Not toxic to cats or dogs, which makes it a sound boundary hedge for a household with animals.

Where it works best

Hedging and screening. Plant 1m apart in a single row. At that spacing the plants knit into a solid hedge and stay furnished to the ground, which is where cheaper screening plants let you down.

Topiary and shaping. The fine growth takes a clipped ball, a cone or an espaliered panel, and holds the shape between trims.

Pots and feature planting. A pot 500mm or wider holds it at around 1.5m for years, and a single specimen makes a well behaved feature shrub beside an entry.

Growing Weroona Camellia in Australia

Position and climate. Morning sun with afternoon shade is safest, though an established plant takes full sun. It suits subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens, and it is frost hardy and wind tolerant, so exposed southern sites are no obstacle.

Soil. Slightly acidic, well drained and enriched with compost. Camellias will not tolerate wet feet, so on heavy clay raise the bed. Mulch 75mm deep and keep it clear of the trunk, because the roots run shallow.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first two summers, then weekly in warm weather. Feed with a camellia and azalea fertiliser in early spring and again after flowering. Yellowing leaves with green veins mean the soil has drifted alkaline.

Pruning. Trim immediately after flowering, before the plant sets next season's buds. Two light trims a year hold a hedge at anything from 1.2m upwards, and it reshoots from old wood if cut back hard.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in four sizes. Tube stock is the value option for a long hedge and needs two to three seasons to close. The 200mm packs of six and 250mm packs of three are the practical middle ground, arriving branched and around knee height. The 300mm pot suits a single feature.

Some bud drop after transit is normal on a plant carrying flowers. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect a settling month, then a continuous hedge within two to three seasons, under our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read our guide to growing and caring for camellias.
• Compare varieties in the full camellia collection.
• Browse other hedging and screening plants.
• See more pet safe plants.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

One metre apart in a single row. Sasanquas branch densely, so 1m gives a solid hedge without the plants competing at the roots. For a looser informal screen, stretch it to 1.5m.

Can it take full sun?

Yes, once established, and that is the main advantage sasanquas hold over the japonicas. Young plants still appreciate afternoon shade for their first two summers, particularly in hot inland gardens.

When should I prune it?

Straight after flowering finishes, in late winter or early spring. Prune later than that and you will cut off the buds forming for next autumn.