Camellia sasanqua ‘Paradise Hilda’

Camellia sasanqua 'Paradise Hilda' (Camellia sasanqua 'Paradise Hilda') is the hedge that flowers when nothing else does. Left untrimmed it reaches about 3m tall and 2m wide, holding glossy dark foliage from the ground up, and through autumn and winter it covers itself in soft pink blooms. Planted 1m apart it closes into a dense screen that works as hard in July as it does in January.

Why you'll love it

• It flowers through autumn and winter. Pink blooms open when the rest of the garden has shut down, which is the best argument for a sasanqua.
• Dense to the ground. Sasanquas branch low and hold foliage at the base, so there is no bare leg at fence height.
• You set the height. About 3m if you leave it alone, or an easy 1.5m to 2m hedge with one trim a year after flowering.
• Safe around pets. Camellias are not toxic to cats or dogs, which makes this a sound choice for a boundary a dog patrols.
• It takes wind and humidity. Exposed suburban boundaries and humid coastal gardens both suit it.

Where it works best

Hedging and screening. Plant 1m apart in a single row. Tighter spacing does not close the gap any faster and makes watering harder as roots compete. Expect full cover in three to four seasons.

Feature planting and topiary. Single plants shape well into balls, cones and standards, and the small leaf takes clipping cleanly.

Pots and containers. A pot 500mm or wider settles it at around 1.5m to 2m, provided you keep the water up during bud formation.

Growing Camellia sasanqua in Australia

Position and climate. Sasanquas take far more sun than japonicas, so full sun to part shade both work, with afternoon shade ideal inland. It suits subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens, and is frost hardy once established.

Soil. Slightly acidic, well drained and rich in organic matter. Work compost through the bed and mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the trunk. It will not tolerate waterlogging, so raise the bed on heavy clay.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first two summers, then weekly in dry weather. Feed a camellia and azalea fertiliser in early spring and again in late summer, ahead of bud set.

Pruning. Trim immediately after flowering finishes in late winter, before the spring flush sets next season's buds. One trim a year holds a hedge at 1.5m to 2m, and it reshoots from older wood.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in five sizes: tube stock, 140mm pots in packs of ten, 200mm pots in packs of six, 250mm pots in packs of three, and single 300mm pots. Tubes and 140mm plants are young and single stemmed, the value choice for a long boundary, though a hedge from tube stock is a three to four year project.

Camellias are slow growers, and it is fair to expect 20cm to 30cm of growth a year rather than the metre a fast hedging plant puts on. 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

• A closer look at growing camellia bushes
• Browse the full camellia range
• Compare screening plants from 2m to 4m
• More plants that are safe around pets

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

One metre apart in a single row. At that spacing the plants meet and the hedge reads as solid, with foliage held down to ground level rather than thinning at the base.

How fast does it grow?

Slowly by hedging standards, around 20cm to 30cm a year once established. A full screen from small stock takes three to four years, so start with the largest pot size if cover is urgent.

When exactly should I prune it?

Straight after the last flowers drop in late winter. Next season's buds form on the spring and summer growth, so a trim later in the year removes the flowers before you ever see them.