Drama Girl Camellia

Drama Girl Camellia (Camellia japonica 'Drama Girl') carries some of the largest flowers in the genus: salmon pink semi double blooms opening through winter when almost nothing else is in colour. It is a vigorous, upright, open growing shrub that reaches about 3.5m tall and 2.5m wide, and it is happiest in dappled shade beneath established trees. Not toxic to cats or dogs.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers you notice from the street. Large semi double blooms in soft salmon pink, held on an open framework so each one is seen properly.
• Winter colour. The main display runs through the coldest months, filling the gap between the autumn sasanquas and the first spring flowers.
• It grows in shade. Dappled light under a tree canopy is what it wants, which makes it useful where most flowering shrubs fail.
• Frost hardy and evergreen. Glossy dark foliage year round, and a plant that handles cold winters without protection.
• Pet friendly. Camellias are not toxic to cats or dogs, so it can go anywhere in a garden that animals use.

Where it works best

Feature planting. Place it where the flowers can be seen up close: beside a path, near a window, or at the edge of a shaded courtyard.

Screening and hedging. Plant 1.2m apart for a screen. Be realistic about the habit, because it is more open than a sasanqua, so it makes an informal screen rather than a clipped hedge.

Pots and containers. A pot 500mm or wider with an acidic camellia mix holds it at around 2m, and lets you control soil pH precisely.

Growing Drama Girl Camellia in Australia

Position and climate. Dappled shade, or morning sun with shelter from hot afternoon light, because full sun scorches the leaves and bleaches the flowers. It suits warm temperate, cool temperate and subtropical gardens and is frost hardy once established. Hot inland districts need overhead protection.

Soil. Acidic and free draining, with plenty of compost or aged leaf litter worked through. This variety is fussier about pH than the sasanquas: if the leaves yellow between green veins, the soil is too alkaline.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first two summers, then weekly in warm weather. Never let it dry out while buds are forming in late summer. Feed with a camellia and azalea fertiliser in early spring and after flowering.

Pruning. Prune straight after flowering, before next season's buds set. Light shaping is usually enough, and thinning a few interior branches improves air movement.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in three sizes: 200mm pots in packs of six, single 300mm pots, and 400mm pots. There is no tube option, so every plant arrives as an established shrub with branch structure already built. The 200mm packs suit a shaded boundary, while a 300mm or 400mm plant is the choice for a single feature.

Some bud drop after transit is normal and not a fault. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect a settling month, then steady growth from the first spring, under our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read our guide to growing and caring for camellias.
• Compare varieties in the full camellia collection.
• Browse other plants for partial shade.
• Learn how to lower soil pH.

Common questions

How much shade does it need?

Dappled light for most of the day, or morning sun with afternoon shade. Under the canopy of an established tree is close to ideal. Hot direct afternoon sun burns the foliage and shortens the life of the flowers.

Why are the buds dropping before they open?

Almost always water stress while the buds were forming through late summer. Keep the root zone evenly moist from January onwards, mulch well, and next season's buds will hold.

How far apart should I plant it as a screen?

About 1.2m apart. It is a more open, upright grower than a sasanqua, so expect an informal screen. For a dense clipped hedge, a sasanqua variety is the better tool.