Camellia sasanqua ‘Sparkling Burgundy’

Camellia sasanqua 'Sparkling Burgundy' (Camellia sasanqua 'Sparkling Burgundy') is the camellia to plant when you want colour in autumn rather than the middle of winter. It reaches about 3m tall and 2m wide, holds dense glossy foliage to the ground, and opens rose burgundy peony form blooms as the weather cools. It is also non toxic to cats and dogs, which rules out a lot of the alternatives.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers when the garden is quiet. Deep rose burgundy peony form blooms open through autumn, filling the gap between the summer display and winter.
• Dense to the ground. Unlike the leggier camellias it branches low, so a hedge has no bare shins at fence height.
• Safe around pets. Camellias are not toxic to cats or dogs, so this suits a garden where the animals chew.
• It takes more sun than people expect. Sasanqua types tolerate a good deal of direct sun, unlike the japonicas that scorch.
• Bees find the flowers. The open peony centre gives bees genuine access to pollen late in the season.

Where it works best

Hedging and screening. Plant 1m apart in a single row for a dense hedge. Left unclipped the same row makes an informal 3m screen along a boundary.

Feature planting. A single plant espaliered against a wall or grown as a standard makes the most of the autumn flowers at eye level.

Pots and containers. A pot 500mm or wider holds it at around 1.5m to 2m. Use a camellia and azalea mix, because the ordinary potting mix is too alkaline.

Growing Camellia sasanqua 'Sparkling Burgundy' in Australia

Position and climate. Morning sun with afternoon shade gives the best flowers, though sasanquas handle full sun in cooler districts. It suits warm temperate, cool temperate, subtropical and Mediterranean gardens, is frost hardy once established, and copes with humidity and wind better than most camellias.

Soil. Slightly acidic, free draining soil rich in organic matter. Work compost through the bed, mulch 75mm deep and keep it clear of the trunk. It will not accept waterlogging.

Water and feed. Water deeply twice a week through the first two summers, then weekly in dry spells. Feed a camellia and azalea fertiliser in early spring and again after flowering.

Pruning. Prune immediately after the flowers finish, before the buds for next season set. Light annual trimming keeps a hedge tight. It shoots from old wood, so a neglected plant can be renovated.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in three sizes: tube stock, 200mm plants in a pack of six, and 250mm plants in a pack of three. Camellias are naturally slow, so tubes are a patient choice, best used on a long hedge with a tight budget. The 250mm plants are already branched and give a hedge a two year head start.

Some leaf drop after transit is normal. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Expect roughly 20cm to 30cm of growth a year once settled, and a light first flowering while the plant establishes. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Everything you need to know about camellias
• Compare the full camellia range
• Browse other 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. Camellias are slow, so tighter spacing tempts people but only makes each plant thin at the base as they compete for light.

How much sun can it take?

More than a japonica camellia. Morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal, and full sun works in cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens. In hot inland sun the flowers brown at the edges.

When does it flower?

Through autumn, earlier than the winter and spring flowering camellias. That timing is the main reason to choose a sasanqua over a japonica.

Is it really safe for cats and dogs?

Yes. Camellias are not toxic to cats or dogs, so it is a sound choice for a hedge along a run the animals use daily.