Nuccio's Jewel Camellia

Nuccio's Jewel Camellia (Camellia japonica 'Nuccio's Jewel') carries formal double blooms of white brushed and edged with rose pink, on a neat evergreen shrub of about 3m tall and 2m wide. It flowers through the coldest part of the year, when little else does, and it is content in the part shade that defeats most flowering plants. Camellias are also non toxic to cats and dogs.

Why you'll love it

• Winter flowers in the shade. Heavy double blooms from mid winter into spring, in a position too dim for roses or gardenias.
• The flower itself. Formal double form, white with rose pink edging, each bloom close to a perfect spiral.
• Evergreen structure all year. Glossy dark leaves hold the shape and the screen long after the flowers finish.
• Safe around pets. Camellias are not toxic to cats or dogs, so it suits a garden the animals use.

Where it works best

Hedging and screening. Plant 1m apart in a single row. Japonicas grow slowly, so allow three to four seasons to close, and tip prune from the first year so the base fills rather than going bare.

Pots and courtyards. A pot 400mm or wider suits it, and container growing naturally holds it nearer 1.5m to 2m. Use an acidic mix and never let it dry out while it is in bud.

Feature planting. A single plant beside an entry or under high canopy earns its place in winter, and the colour reads well against a dark wall. It is slow enough to hold 3m by 2m without constant cutting back.

Growing Nuccio's Jewel Camellia in Australia

Position and climate. Part shade is ideal, particularly protection from hot afternoon sun, which scorches the leaves and browns open blooms. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate and subtropical gardens, and it is both frost hardy and comfortable in humidity.

Soil. Acidic, free draining and rich in organic matter. Work compost through the bed, and if your soil is alkaline grow it in a pot with an azalea and camellia mix instead of fighting the ground.

Water and feed. Steady moisture matters most from bud set through flowering, because a dry spell at that point drops the buds unopened. Feed with a camellia and azalea fertiliser once flowering finishes and again in mid summer, and mulch 75mm deep clear of the trunk.

Pruning. Prune straight after the last flower. Tip prune for density, thin the interior so air moves through, and it will take a harder reduction if it has outgrown its space.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in a 300mm pot as a single plant, and in 200mm pots sold in packs of six for hedging. The 300mm plants are bushier and closer to flowering size, while the 200mm packs are the sensible way to buy a run of hedge at a better rate per metre.

A few dropped leaves or buds after transit is normal for a camellia and not a fault. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The complete camellia care guide
• Browse the full camellia range
• Plants that are safe around pets
• More plants for partial shade

Common questions

Why do the buds drop before opening?

Almost always water stress while the buds are swelling, or a sudden temperature swing. Keep the root zone evenly damp from autumn through flowering and mulch well to even out the extremes.

Is it safe for cats and dogs?

Yes. Camellias are recognised as non toxic to cats and dogs, so a dropped flower or a chewed leaf is not a cause for alarm.

Can I grow it in a pot long term?

Yes, camellias are among the better shrubs for containers. Use a pot 400mm or wider with an acidic mix and root prune every three or four years.

Will it grow in a subtropical garden?

Yes, and it tolerates humidity well. In the warmest districts give it more shade rather than less.