Roger Hall Camellia

Roger Hall Camellia (Camellia japonica 'Roger Hall') delivers formal double red flowers from winter into early spring, on a compact evergreen shrub around 2m tall and 1.5m wide. The blooms hold their petals in neat, symmetrical rows against deep green gloss, at a time of year when little else in the garden is performing. It is also one of the few flowering hedge plants that is genuinely safe around pets.

Why you'll love it

• Winter colour when it counts. Rich red blooms open through the coldest months, filling the quietest gap in the garden calendar.
• Formal double flowers. Each bloom carries tight, ordered rows of petals, so a single cut stem reads as an arrangement.
• Compact and slow. At around 2m tall it hedges, screens and pots up without the constant cutting a fast shrub demands.
• Safe around pets. Camellias are not toxic to cats or dogs, which very few flowering hedges can claim.
• Evergreen structure. The glossy foliage looks deliberate all year, flowering or not, and birds shelter in established plants.

Where it works best

Hedging and screening. Plant 1m apart for a dense hedge to about 2m, a flowering alternative to the usual plain green walls for side boundaries and courtyards.

Feature planting and small gardens. The slow, tidy habit keeps it in scale beside entries, windows and seating areas for years without intervention.

Pots. Japonica camellias grow well long term in large containers, which puts a winter flowering feature within reach of balconies and rented gardens.

Growing Roger Hall Camellia in Australia

Position and climate. Morning sun or dappled shade is the sweet spot; hot afternoon sun scorches flowers and foliage, especially in subtropical gardens. It performs from the subtropics through warm temperate and cool temperate climates, and it is frost hardy, though a heavy frost can mark open blooms.

Soil. Slightly acidic, free draining soil enriched with organic matter. Camellias are shallow rooted, so mulch generously and avoid digging around the base.

Water and feed. Steady moisture matters most while buds are forming; a dry spell in the lead up to flowering is the usual cause of bud drop. Feed with a camellia and azalea fertiliser once flowering finishes.

Pruning. Prune or shape immediately after flowering, before next season's buds are set. Thanks to the slow growth, a hedge needs only one light trim a year.

What to expect when it arrives

Roger Hall is sold as 200mm pots in packs of six, which at the recommended 1m spacing plants a hedge run of about 6m in one order. The plants arrive as young, well branched shrubs, and even small camellias carry blooms. Progress is steady rather than rapid: the hedge thickens each year.

Orders are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the camellia range
• More plants safe for pets
• Hedging and screening plants

Common questions

Is it safe for dogs and cats?

Yes. Camellias are recognised as non toxic to cats and dogs, so Roger Hall can flower at nose height without worry, and spent petals on the ground are not a hazard either.

When does it flower?

From winter into early spring. The formal double blooms open in succession over many weeks rather than all at once, which stretches the display through the season.

How far apart should I plant a hedge?

One metre apart, planting the full row in one go so it matures evenly. Expect a furnished hedge over a few seasons; the payoff is minimal cutting from then on.

Why are the buds dropping before they open?

Bud drop is nearly always moisture stress in the months before flowering. Keep the root zone evenly moist from summer onward and hold a 50 to 75mm mulch layer, kept clear of the trunk.

Can it take full sun?

In cool temperate gardens it copes with more sun; in warmer zones give it morning light and afternoon protection. Everywhere, the flowers last longer out of hot westerly sun.