Beatrice Emily Camellia

Beatrice Emily Camellia (Camellia sasanqua 'Beatrice Emily') is the sasanqua to plant when you want a hedge that earns its keep in the cold months. It settles at about 2.5m tall and 1.5m wide, evergreen and furnished right down to the base, and from mid autumn it carries semi double blooms that open white and deepen to soft purple at the edges. Planted a metre apart it makes a flowering hedge that asks for one trim a year.

Why you'll love it

• It flowers when little else does. The display runs from mid autumn through winter, white centres shading to purple at the margins.
• Narrow enough for a real fence line. At roughly 2.5m tall and 1.5m wide it screens a boundary without pushing into the lawn.
• Slow growing, so it stays tidy. One trim after flowering holds the shape. There is no monthly chase to keep it in bounds.
• Happy in part shade. Sasanquas take more sun than the japonicas, but this one is at its best with morning sun and shelter from hard afternoon heat.
• Safe around pets, good for bees. Camellias are not toxic to cats or dogs, and the open flowers draw bees and butterflies.

Where it works best

Hedging and screening. Plant 1m apart in a single row. Closer spacing does not close the gap sooner, it only sets the plants competing for water and food.

Pots and small gardens. A pot 500mm or wider holds one for years, which suits a courtyard, an entry pair, or a townhouse strip.

Feature planting. Single plants shape well against a wall, and this makes a rewarding espalier.

Growing Beatrice Emily Camellia in Australia

Position and climate. A plant for subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens. It is frost hardy once established and handles wind and humidity, so exposed southern blocks and muggy coastal ones both suit it. In hot inland districts give it afternoon shade, or the blooms brown off.

Soil. Slightly acidic, free draining and rich in organic matter. Camellias will not tolerate lime or wet feet, so work compost through the bed and mound the hole on clay. Keep 75mm of mulch clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. A deep soak once or twice a week through the first two summers, then moderate water. Feed a camellia and azalea fertiliser once flowering finishes, and again in mid summer as next season's buds set.

Pruning. Trim as soon as the last flowers drop. Cutting later removes the buds you were waiting on. It reshoots from older wood, so an overgrown plant can be brought back in stages.

What to expect when it arrives

It is sold in three sizes: 200mm pots in packs of six, 250mm pots in packs of three, and single plants in 300mm pots. The multi packs suit a hedge run: matched plants of the same age grow at the same rate and the row stays even. Choose 300mm for a pot or a single feature.

Camellias are slow, so be realistic. Expect 20 to 30cm of growth a year, and three to four seasons before a 1m spaced row reads as solid. Plants are delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Everything you need to know about camellia bushes
• Browse the full camellia range
• Other plants that thrive in partial shade
• More plants safe around cats and dogs

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

One metre apart in a single row. That spacing lets each plant keep its lower branches while the canopies knit together, which stops the hedge going bare along the bottom.

How much sun does it need?

Morning sun with afternoon shelter suits most of the country. Full sun is fine in cool temperate gardens, but in hot inland positions the flowers scorch and the leaves yellow.

Can I grow it in a pot long term?

Yes, in a pot 500mm or wider with an acidic mix and reliable drainage. Potted camellias dry out faster than garden plants, so check the mix twice weekly in summer.