Desire Camellia

Desire Camellia (Camellia japonica 'Desire') is the one to plant when you want a hedge that flowers in the middle of winter. The blooms are formal doubles, white through the centre and edged in rose pink, opening from late autumn into early spring when almost nothing else is working. It grows to about 2.5m tall and 1.8m wide and holds glossy evergreen foliage all year.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers when the garden is empty. A long winter display of formal double blooms, white at the heart and brushed rose pink at the edge.
• A screen that suits a narrow bed. At 2.5m tall and only 1.8m across it screens a fence or a window without pushing into the lawn.
• Shade, salt and humidity tolerant. The classic answer for a shaded side boundary, salt tolerant enough for a coastal block and untroubled by humid summers.
• Safe for pets, good for bees. Not toxic to cats or dogs, and the winter flowers are an early food source for bees.

Where it works best

Screening and hedging. Plant 1m apart in a single row. Camellias are slow, so allow three to four seasons for the row to close, and resist planting tighter to hurry it.

Shaded courtyards, balconies and pots. Morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal, one of the few flowering screens for the shaded side of a house. A pot 500mm or wider holds it at roughly 1.5m to 2m, and single plants shape well as a matched pair at an entry.

Growing Desire Camellia in Australia

Position and climate. Part shade is the sweet spot: morning sun, protection from hot afternoon sun and drying wind. It suits subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens and is frost hardy once established, so southern and tableland gardens are in range. In warm subtropical areas keep it out of the western sun.

Soil. Acidic, free draining and rich in organic matter. This is where most camellias fail, so work compost through the bed, and if your soil is alkaline use a large pot of camellia and azalea mix instead. Mulch 75mm deep, since the roots run shallow.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first two summers, and never let it dry out while buds form in late summer, since bud drop traces back to that. Feed a camellia and azalea fertiliser after flowering.

Pruning. Prune straight after flowering, before new growth starts. Tip prune from the first year to build density, and take a hedge back by no more than a third at a time.

What to expect when it arrives

This variety is grown in one size: 200mm pots, sold in packs of six. Each is a young bushy plant, 30cm to 50cm tall, well branched and ready for a hedge line or a pot. A pack of six runs roughly 6m of hedge.

Camellias travel well, though expect a few dropped leaves and, if the plant is in bud, some dropped buds after transit. That is stress, not a fault. Growth is steady at 20cm to 30cm a year, and the first significant winter display comes in the second year. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• A complete guide to growing camellia bushes
• Compare every camellia in the range
• Other plants for shaded positions
• How to plant and maintain a formal hedge

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

One metre apart in a single row. The row takes three to four seasons to close, and tighter spacing only leaves crowded roots competing for water.

Why are the buds dropping before they open?

Almost always dryness at the roots in late summer while buds are setting. Deep regular watering through summer and autumn, plus good mulch, fixes it.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes, and it is the right answer in alkaline soil. Use a pot at least 500mm wide with a camellia and azalea mix, and expect it to settle at 1.5m to 2m.