Camellia sasanqua Yuletide

Yuletide Camellia (Camellia sasanqua 'Yuletide') is the hedge that flowers while the rest of the garden is asleep. It reaches about 3m tall and 2m wide, upright rather than sprawling, and covers itself in single scarlet blooms with gold stamens from late autumn into winter. Clipped at 1m spacing it makes a formal evergreen wall, and the roots are well behaved enough to plant beside paving.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers in the quiet season. Scarlet blooms with gold centres open in late autumn and hold through winter, when little else is doing anything.
• Upright, not wide. About 3m by 2m, so it screens a fence line without swallowing the garden bed.
• It takes the shears. Sasanquas reshoot readily from clipped wood, which is why this one handles hedging and shaped standards.
• Safe near paths and pets. Fibrous, non-invasive roots, and camellias are not toxic to cats or dogs.
• Low maintenance. Frost hardy, humidity tolerant and salt tolerant enough for a coastal garden.

Where it works best

Hedging and screening. Plant 1m apart in a single row for a dense hedge held anywhere between 1.5m and 3m. Tighter spacing shades out the base rather than closing the gap faster.

Topiary and shaping. Small leaves and willing reshooting make it one of the better camellias for a clipped ball or a matched pair at an entry.

Pots and courtyards. A pot 450mm or wider with an acidic mix holds it near 1.5m to 2m.

Growing Yuletide Camellia in Australia

Position and climate. Sasanquas take far more sun than the japonicas. Full sun to part shade both work in subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens, though afternoon shade stops the blooms crisping inland. It is frost hardy once established. Wet tropical gardens are the climate to avoid.

Soil. Acidic, free draining and rich in organic matter. Work compost through the bed before planting and mulch 75mm deep, clear of the stem. Yellow leaves with green veins mean the pH has drifted too high.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, and never let it dry out while buds are forming or they drop before opening. Feed a camellia and azalea fertiliser in early spring and after flowering.

Pruning. Prune straight after the last bloom, before new growth sets next season's buds. Two light trims a year hold a hedge tight, and it reshoots from older wood if a neglected plant needs cutting back hard.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown as tube stock, 250mm pots in packs of three, 200mm pots in packs of six, and single 300mm plants. Tube and 200mm plants are young, usually under knee height, and the sensible buy for a long hedge run: a season slower to close, but far cheaper per metre. A 300mm plant already reads as a shrub.

Camellias travel well because the foliage is leathery, though a few dropped leaves after transit is normal. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Expect roughly 20 to 30cm of growth a year. Every plant is covered by 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
• Plants that suit topiary and shaping
• Compare screening plants from 2m to 4m

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

One metre apart in a single row. Any tighter and the plants shade each other out at the base instead of closing faster. Expect two to three seasons to a solid screen.

Will it flower in a warm climate?

Yes. Sasanquas flower reliably in subtropical and warm temperate gardens, which is why they suit Australia better than the japonicas. In very hot districts give it afternoon shade so the blooms last longer.

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

Yes. Camellias are not toxic to cats or dogs, so this is a safe choice for a boundary hedge in a garden where pets patrol the fence line.