Camellia japonica ‘Elegans Champagne’

Camellia 'Elegans Champagne' (Camellia japonica 'Elegans Champagne') is the white flowered form for a shaded courtyard or a formal screen that never has to be rushed. It reaches about 3m tall and 2m wide, though slowly enough that ten to fifteen years is a fair expectation for full height. The flowers are large and anemone formed, creamy white with a ruffled centre, opening through late winter and spring when little else is doing much.

Why you'll love it

• It flowers in the off season. Late winter into spring is the gap in most gardens, and that is its peak.
• Tall but narrow. At roughly 3m by 2m it screens a fence line or a neighbouring window without taking a wide bed.
• Slow growth is the point. It will not outgrow a courtyard or a large pot, and one light prune a year is enough.
• It prefers the shade you cannot use. Morning sun with afternoon shade suits it, so it fills the difficult side of a house.
• Safe around pets. Camellias are not toxic to cats or dogs.

Where it works best

Screening and formal hedging. Plant 1m apart in a single row for a clipped evergreen screen. Be realistic: a solid screen takes four to six years, the trade for a plant that then holds its shape with almost no work.

Pots, courtyards and small gardens. Its narrow habit and slow growth make it one of the few 3m plants that suits a small block. A pot 500mm or wider holds it for years and keeps it nearer 1.5m to 2m. Use an acidic potting mix and do not let it dry out through flowering.

Growing Camellia 'Elegans Champagne' in Australia

Position and climate. Morning sun with shade from midday onwards gives the best flowers; full afternoon sun browns the white petals. It suits warm temperate, cool temperate and subtropical gardens, and it is frost hardy, so cold southern districts are fine. It is not one for the wet tropics or arid inland heat.

Soil. Acidic, free draining and rich in organic matter. On alkaline or limey soil the leaves yellow between the veins. Mulch to 75mm with a leafy mulch and keep it off the trunk.

Water and feed. Water consistently through spring and summer while the buds form, since summer dryness is the usual cause of bud drop the following winter. Feed with an azalea and camellia fertiliser after flowering finishes.

Pruning. Prune straight after the last flowers drop, before the new buds set. Light shaping is all it needs, though it will take a harder cut and reshoot from old wood.

What to expect when it arrives

Two sizes are available: tube stock and a 200mm pack of six. Tube stock is a small young plant, and with a camellia this slow it is a long term buy. The 200mm plants are several years ahead and the sensible choice if you want flowers within a season or two.

Camellias travel well, with firm leaves and a tight root ball, though a few buds may drop after transit. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Compare varieties across the full camellia range.
• Browse other plants for partial shade.
• See what else is safe around cats and dogs.
• Find companions in plants for small gardens.

Common questions

How long before it screens a fence?

Four to six years at 1m spacing, and closer to ten before it reaches full height. This is a slow camellia, so buy the largest size you can if you need the screen soon.

Why are the buds dropping before they open?

Usually dryness the previous summer, when the buds were forming. Keep the water consistent through the warm months and mulch well, rather than trying to fix it in winter.

Will it grow in a hot dry inland garden?

Not well. It wants humidity, afternoon shade and acidic soil, so arid and semi-arid districts are a poor match.