Camellia Cleopatra White

Camellia 'Cleopatra White' (Camellia sasanqua 'Cleopatra White') is the narrow evergreen hedge for a tight space. It grows to about 2.5m tall and only 1.2m wide, holds glossy dark foliage right down to ground level, and covers itself in single white flowers through autumn and early winter when most gardens have gone quiet.

Why you'll love it

• Tall and narrow by nature. At 2.5m by 1.2m it screens a fence line or side path without taking over the bed in front of it.
• Flowers in the off season. White blooms open from autumn into early winter, filling the months when there is little else in flower.
• Dense to the base. Evergreen foliage carries all the way to the ground, so a hedge does not go bare at the bottom.
• Coastal, humid or frosty. Salt tolerant, comfortable in humidity and frost hardy once established. It is also not toxic to cats or dogs.

Where it works best

Hedging and screening. Plant 1m apart in a single row for a dense hedge. At that spacing the plants meet within two to three seasons.

Pots and courtyards. A pot 500mm or wider suits a courtyard or entry, where container growing holds the plant nearer 1.5m to 2m.

Topiary and feature planting. It takes shaping willingly, so a clipped column, a narrow espalier against a wall or a matched pair at an entry all work.

Growing Camellia Cleopatra White in Australia

Position and climate. Morning sun with afternoon shade gives the best result. It handles full sun in cooler districts and wants protection in hot inland gardens. Warm temperate, cool temperate, subtropical and Mediterranean gardens all suit it, and it is frost hardy once the roots are down.

Soil. Slightly acidic, free draining soil with plenty of organic matter. Camellias are shallow rooted, so mulch 75mm deep and never cultivate around the base.

Water and feed. Keep the root zone evenly moist through the first two summers, and again through late summer while buds are forming, because dry soil at that point means dropped buds in autumn. Feed a camellia or azalea fertiliser once flowering finishes.

Pruning. Trim immediately after flowering in late winter. Sasanquas take pruning far better than the japonica types and reshoot from old wood, so a neglected hedge can be cut back hard and recovered.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in one size, tube stock. These are young single stemmed plants and the value way to plant a long hedge line. Expect two to three seasons before the row closes over, and in return the roots establish undisturbed and the plants knit evenly.

Tubes travel upright and settle within a fortnight, with the first real flowering usually in the second autumn after planting. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read the full camellia care guide for feeding and pruning.
• Compare flower forms across the camellia range.
• See other tall and narrow screening plants.
• Browse more plants safe for pets.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

One metre apart in a single row. That closes into a solid screen without the plants competing, and keeps the finished hedge about 1.2m deep.

When does it flower?

From autumn into early winter, over roughly six to eight weeks. Sasanquas flower earlier than japonicas, which is why they carry a garden through the quiet months.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes, in a pot at least 500mm wide with acidic potting mix. Expect it to settle around 1.5m to 2m, and keep the mix evenly moist, since potted camellias drop buds if they dry out.

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

Yes. Camellias are not toxic to cats or dogs, so this is a sound hedge for a family garden.