Emperor of Russia Variegated Camellia

Emperor of Russia Variegated Camellia (Camellia japonica 'Emperor of Russia Variegated') flowers when almost nothing else does. Large red blooms, marbled and streaked with white so no two are alike, open through winter and into early spring on a glossy evergreen shrub about 3m tall and 2m wide. It is slow, long lived, and one of the few flowering shrubs genuinely safe around cats and dogs.

Why you'll love it

• Colour in the coldest months. Flowering runs through winter into early spring, filling the gap when the rest of the garden has shut down.
• No two flowers the same. The variegation breaks across each bloom differently, so one shrub carries red, white and everything between.
• Pet friendly. Camellias are not toxic to cats or dogs, which matters for a shrub at nose height along a path.
• Handsome out of flower. Thick, dark, polished leaves hold condition year round, so it earns its space for the other nine months.

Where it works best

Hedging and screening. Plant 1m apart for a dense hedge. Camellias take clipping well and hold foliage low, so the screen stays solid at fence height rather than lifting into bare stems.

Feature planting. A single specimen under high shade, or espaliered flat against a shaded wall, is the classic use and needs almost no maintenance once established.

Pots and courtyards. A 500mm pot of acidic camellia mix holds it to around 1.5m to 2m and gives you the right soil pH anywhere in the country.

Growing Emperor of Russia Variegated Camellia in Australia

Position and climate. Morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal. It is frost hardy and at home in cool temperate, warm temperate and subtropical gardens. In hot inland or subtropical positions give it more shade, since hot afternoon sun burns the leaves and the open blooms.

Soil. Acidic, rich and free draining, around pH 5.5 to 6.5. Work compost and aged pine bark through the bed. Plant slightly high, as camellias are surface rooters and hate being buried.

Water and feed. Water deeply twice a week through the first two summers and mulch 75mm deep, kept off the trunk. Dry roots in summer are the usual cause of buds dropping before they open. Feed a camellia and azalea fertiliser after flowering and again in midsummer.

Pruning. Trim straight after the last flowers finish, because a later cut removes the buds forming for next winter. Neglected plants reshoot from hard cuts, so a leggy shrub can be brought back.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes in two sizes: 200mm in packs of six, and a single 300mm plant. The pack of six is the sensible way to start a hedge run, arriving as young bushy shrubs. The 300mm is a larger single plant for a feature position or a pot.

Camellias are slow, growing roughly 20cm to 30cm a year, so buy close to the size you want. Some bud drop after transit is normal. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The complete camellia care guide
• Choosing between camellia types and forms
• Compare varieties in the camellia collection
• Browse more plants that are safe for pets

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

One metre apart in a single row. Camellias are slow, so expect three to four years for the canopies to close at that spacing rather than a single season.

Why are the buds dropping before they open?

Almost always water stress the previous summer, when the buds were forming. Deep watering through the warm months and a good layer of mulch prevents it.

Can I grow it in a pot long term?

Yes. Use a 500mm pot with acidic camellia mix, root prune every three or four years, and expect it to settle at 1.5m to 2m rather than 3m.