Paradise Pearl Camellia

Paradise Pearl Camellia (Camellia sasanqua 'Paradise Pearl') is the compact sasanqua to reach for when you want a flowering hedge that stays where you put it. It settles at about 2m tall and 1.5m wide, so it screens a fence line without becoming a job to control. White blooms flushed soft pink open through autumn and into winter, when little else is doing anything.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers in the off season. Sasanquas bloom from autumn into winter, filling the gap between the last summer colour and the spring flush.
• A hedge that stays small. About 2m by 1.5m untrimmed, so it is a low hedge rather than a commitment. One trim a year holds it at 1.2m to 1.5m.
• Safe around pets. Camellias are not toxic to cats or dogs, so this works in a garden where the dog patrols the fence line.
• Hardy in real conditions. Frost hardy, wind tolerant and humidity tolerant, which is why it works from subtropical gardens down to cool temperate ones.

Where it works best

Low hedging. Plant 80cm apart for a dense low hedge. At that spacing the plants meet within two to three seasons and stay furnished to the ground rather than lifting into bare stems.

Screening a courtyard. At 2m it covers a paling fence and a little above, which is often all a narrow suburban bed needs.

Pots and topiary. A pot 400mm or wider holds it around 1.2m to 1.5m, and the small leaves take the clippers well.

Growing Paradise Pearl Camellia in Australia

Position and climate. Sasanquas take more sun than other camellias, and full sun to part shade both work, though hot inland gardens want afternoon shade so the flowers do not burn. It suits subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens.

Soil. Camellias want acidic, free draining soil rich in organic matter. If your soil is alkaline, use an azalea and camellia mix in the hole and in pots. Mulch 75mm deep.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then water consistently while the buds form in late summer, because a dry spell then means dropped buds. Feed a camellia fertiliser after flowering and in midsummer.

Pruning. Prune immediately after flowering, before the plant sets next season's buds. For a hedge, trim lightly and often rather than hard and rarely. It reshoots from older wood, so an overgrown plant recovers.

What to expect when it arrives

This camellia is grown in five sizes: tube, 140mm in packs of ten, 200mm in packs of six, 250mm in packs of three, and 300mm. Tube and 300mm stock moves in and out of backorder, so check the size selector for what is available today. The 140mm and 200mm packs are the value choice for a hedge run.

Camellias are slow growing, and that is worth knowing before you buy. Expect 20cm to 30cm of growth a year rather than a metre, and allow two to three seasons for an 80cm spaced hedge to close. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• A complete guide to growing camellias
• Compare every camellia we grow
• Screening plants that stay under 2m
• Plants that are safe around cats and dogs

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

Eighty centimetres apart in a single row gives a dense low hedge. Closer planting does not close the gap any faster and makes it harder to water and feed each plant properly.

Is it safe for cats and dogs?

Yes. Camellias are not toxic to cats or dogs, which sets them apart from azaleas. It is a sound choice for a boundary hedge in a home with pets.

Why do the buds drop before they open?

Almost always water stress while the buds were forming in late summer, or a pot that has dried out repeatedly. Keep the water up through that period and the buds will hold.