Showa No Sakae Camellia

Showa No Sakae (Camellia sasanqua 'Showa No Sakae') is the sasanqua to choose when you want flowers in autumn and a plant that does more than one job. Soft pink semi double blooms open from autumn into early winter on a shrub that settles around 2.5m tall and 1.8m wide. The spreading, layered habit is the point: it hedges, it trains flat against a wall, and it lives happily in a pot.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers when the garden has gone quiet. Autumn into early winter, when most shrubs have finished, in soft pink against glossy dark foliage.
• A spreading habit that trains well. The wide, layered growth suits espalier along a fence and gives a clipped hedge that stays furnished to the base.
• Safe around pets. Camellias are not toxic to cats or dogs, and bees work the open centres.
• Coastal, humid or frosty, it holds up. Salt tolerant, humidity tolerant and frost hardy once established.

Where it works best

Hedging and screening. Plant 1m apart in a single row for a dense hedge held at 1.5m to 2.5m. Trim as soon as flowering finishes, because next season's buds form on the growth that follows.

Espalier and narrow beds. The layered branching trains flat against a wall or wires with very little forcing, which buys you flowers in a bed only 400mm deep.

Pots and feature planting. A pot 500mm or wider holds it near 1.5m for years, and as a single specimen it reads as a broad, softly shaped shrub.

Growing Showa No Sakae camellia in Australia

Position and climate. Morning sun with afternoon shade gives the best flower quality in hot districts, while a hedge in full sun grows denser. Sasanquas handle sun far better than the japonica camellias, which is what makes them the hedging camellia. It suits subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens, not arid inland or the wet tropics.

Soil. Acidic to neutral, free draining and rich in organic matter. Work compost through the bed and mulch 75mm deep, clear of the trunk. Limey soil brings on yellowing leaves.

Water and feed. Camellias are shallow rooted, so consistent moisture matters more than volume. Deep water twice a week through the first two summers, and never let a potted plant dry out while buds are forming in late summer. Feed an azalea and camellia fertiliser in early spring and in midsummer.

Pruning. Trim immediately after the last flowers drop, and no later. It reshoots readily from old wood, so a neglected plant can be cut back hard, at the cost of one season of flowers.

What to expect when it arrives

This camellia is grown here in 200mm pots sold in packs of six and 250mm pots sold in packs of three. Both are established young plants, branched and well rooted rather than tube stock, and the pack sizes reflect how it is used: a hedge run or an espalier line.

Expect a plant of roughly 40 to 60cm, and expect it to be deliberate. A hedge from this size takes three to four years to close at 1m spacing. Some bud drop after transit is normal, particularly if it arrives in flower. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Everything you need to know about camellia bushes
• Browse the full camellia range
• Compare hedging and screening plants
• Plants that shape and clip well

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

One metre apart in a single row. Sasanquas are slow, so expect three to four years to a closed hedge from 200mm or 250mm plants.

When should I prune it?

In winter, as soon as the last flowers drop. Buds for the coming autumn form on the growth that follows that trim, so pruning in spring or summer removes the next display.

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

Yes. Camellias are not toxic to cats or dogs, which makes this a safe choice for a hedge along a dog run or a pot on a patio.