Guv's Gardens
Photo: Bongsun, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Sun
- Part shade
- Soil
- Acid, moist but well-drained
- Soil pH
- Acid (ericaceous), below pH 7
- Water
- Keep well watered in summer
- Hardiness
- Generally RHS H5; C. sasanqua H4
- Height and spread
- Medium to large shrub; space 3-5m apart
Guv's tipCamellias want acid soil and part shade. Keep them well watered in summer, and remove fallen flowers to beat flower blight.
Through the year
Timings are for the UK as a whole. Northern and exposed gardens often run a couple of weeks later.
When to plant
Plant in autumn or spring
Flowering
Flowers autumn to winter (sasanqua) or early spring (japonica)
Pruning
Prune after flowering
Making more plants
Layering, semi-ripe cuttings
Watch out for
Camellia flower blight
Ciborinia camelliaeLook for: Brown flower blotches, whole flowers turn brown
What to do: Remove fallen flowers, mulch
Always read and follow the label on any treatment, and check it is approved for use where you live.
Safety and spread
Pets and people: Non-toxic. The ASPCA lists Camellia japonica as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses, and Cats Protection lists camellia as safe
Weed risk: None known
Growing somewhere else? See this plant for Australia.
The Plant Doctor and the Guv's book
Printable pest and disease charts with real photographs, and all 50 UK plants in one book.
