Black Tie Camellia

Black Tie Camellia (Camellia japonica 'Black Tie') is the shrub to plant where the garden looks empty in July. It reaches about 2.5m tall and 1.5m wide, holds glossy dark evergreen leaves all year, and opens deep red formal double flowers through the coldest months. It also takes shade and is not toxic to cats or dogs, a rare combination in a flowering shrub this size.

Why you'll love it

• It flowers when nothing else does. Blooms open through winter into early spring, filling the gap between the last of autumn and the start of the spring garden.
• Formal double flowers. Each bloom is a tight symmetrical rosette of deep red petals with no visible stamens, so it holds its shape rather than blowing open.
• It genuinely prefers shade. Morning sun and afternoon shade suit it, one of the few real options for a shaded southern or eastern wall.
• Safe around pets. Camellias are not toxic to cats or dogs, so it can go in a garden where animals graze.

Where it works best

Hedging and screening. Plant 1m apart in a single row. Be realistic about the timeline, because this is a slow camellia and a closed screen takes four or five seasons from small stock.

Pots and courtyards. A pot 400mm wide or more suits it, and container growing holds it nearer 2m. Use an acidic mix and water consistently while buds are forming.

Feature planting in shade. A single plant under high tree canopy or against a shaded wall carries a bed that little else will flower in.

Growing Black Tie Camellia in Australia

Position and climate. Dappled light all day is fine, and it is frost hardy across subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens. The honest limits are the wet tropics, where constant heat cuts flowering, and the dry inland, where hot wind burns the buds before they open.

Soil. Acidic, well drained and rich in organic matter. Avoid lime and mushroom compost. Mulch 75mm deep and keep it clear of the trunk, because camellia roots sit close to the surface.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers, then keep it moist rather than wet. Consistent water from late summer onwards is what prevents bud drop. Feed a camellia and azalea food after flowering, and again in late summer.

Pruning. Prune as soon as flowering finishes, before next year's buds are set. It takes shaping well, but growth is slow, so trim lightly and often rather than cutting hard.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in four sizes: tube stock, 200mm in packs of six, 250mm in packs of three, and a single 400mm plant. Tubes and 200mm plants are young and will not flower for a season or two, and a pack of six at 1m spacing covers 5m of hedge line. The 400mm is the advanced option, already branched and close to flowering size.

Camellias travel well, though a few buds may drop after transit, which is normal rather than a fault. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Choosing and caring for camellia bushes
• Compare the full camellia collection
• Other hedging and screening plants
• More plants that are safe for pets

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

One metre apart in a single row. Because it grows slowly, resist planting tighter, since crowded camellias compete at the roots and thin out at the base rather than closing any faster.

How fast does it grow?

Slowly, which is part of the appeal. Expect around 15cm to 30cm a year once established, so allow four or five years to reach a useful screening height from small stock.

Why do the buds drop before they open?

Almost always inconsistent watering through late summer and autumn while buds are forming. Deep, regular watering and a good layer of mulch through the warm months fixes it the following season.