How to Grow Camellias
Camellias are much sought-after, elegant evergreen shrubs, popular in UK gardens for their glossy foliage and beautiful, rose-like flowers in late winter and spring. Although camellias can seem demanding, they grow well and flower reliably when planted and cared for correctly.
This page explains how to grow camellias successfully, starting with most importantly where to plant camellias, how to get the best blooms, when and how to prune camellias without reducing flowering.
Key Points:
Light: There is a good range of sizes, from compact, around 1m to large trees over 6m
Height: As a woodland plant, Camellias do well in dappled partial shade
Soil: Ericaceous soil is absolutely essential.
Special Features: A really showy shrub which will also grow well in containers. To do well with Camellia, you must get the soil and the position in the garden right. Note that there are also some autumn/winter-flowering Camellia.
Essential soil type for Camellia
Camellias are not the easiest shrubs to grow, and the saying "Right plant, right place" is very apt when it comes to growing Camellias. It is essential to plant Camellias in ericaceous (i.e. acid.) soil. Camellias belong to the group of acid-loving shrubs, which also includes Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Pieris, and many woodland shrubs that only thrive in acid soil.
A common cause of Camellia failing to thrive is planting in the wrong soil. Don't know if your soil is acid? You can either buy a soil testing kit, or have a look around neighbouring gardens to see if they are growing any of the acid-loving shrubs. If you don't have the right soil, you can grow Camellias in a container as long as you fill it with ericaceous compost.
The hardiness of Camellia varies, ranging from fully hardy to slightly tender; the latter types require winter protection. Check the label for information and also an explanation of what frost hardy means.
Camellias are ( mainly) spring-flowering and are very attractive, as the images show. Flowering colours are predominantly shades of red, pink, white, and occasionally yellow. There are also many variegated Camellia, as illustrated above right.
Where to plant Camellia
Camellias are tricky to grow because they are fussy and have a few "rules"
When planting, do not plant too deep; the root ball should be level with the earth.
Camellias must have acid soil, without which they will not thrive and flower. If your soil is not acidic, you can only grow Camellia in a container, Fortunately Camellia makes a good container shrub. Trying to change the pH of garden soil is not a good idea and doesn't really work, especially in the long term. Only with ericaceous feed.
Camellias like moist, well-drained acid soil, in partial sun, (not full sun) and away from cold winds in a sheltered spot.
It is important not to plant camellias facing east, because the early morning sun can damage the blooms(see image below)
If you can water with rainwater, not tap water, which generally has too much calcium.
And as if that is not enough, Camellia will also benefit from a nice leaf mulch, being a woodland plant.
Camellia is a red wheelbarrow shrub, it is difficult to grow. Those gardeners whose Camellias flower year after year in abundance, with lovely green glossy leaves, are probably wondering why, but in many conditions and parts of the country, Camellia can be difficult. Travelling around, there are plenty of examples of Camellias with sad, yellowing leaves and discoloured blooms.
Growing Camellia Frequently Asked Questions
When should I prune camellias in the UK?
Prune camellias just after they flower in spring. Pruning later in the year can remove developing flower buds for the following season.
Why do camellia buds drop before opening?
Dry soil, cold or drying winds, or sudden temperature changes are usually the cause bud drop. A mulch to retain moisture and planting in a sheltered area helps reduce the problem.
Where is the best place to plant a camellia?
Camellias grow best in a sheltered position with partial shade, protected from early morning sun and cold winds. Always plant in acidic, moisture-retentive soil.
Do camellias need ericaceous compost or feed?
Yes: Camellias prefer acidic conditions. It is essential to use ericaceous compost or acid-forming fertilisers to help maintain healthy growth and good flowering.
Why are the leaves on my camellia turning yellow?
Yellow leaves usually mean the soil is not acidic enough. Adding ericaceous compost or an acid-forming fertiliser can help restore healthy green foliage.
How to Plant Camellia
First and foremost, pick the right spot. Sheltered and not facing east. Dig a large hole and add leaf mould, if possible, or a suitable ericaceous compost and feed. Ensure that you plant the shrub at the soil level. To check, once you have placed the Camellia in the hole, lay a cane across the top of the hole to check the shrub is at soil level, and then fill in and water well. The most important point is to plant in a suitable spot, sheltered with dappled shade and out of direct sunlight. As with all new shrubs, water, water, water.
Camellia bloom damaged by frost and morning sun.
Although many Camellias are fully hardy, the buds and flowers are prone to damage caused by the morning sun and frosts. This is a common problem with Camellia. To avoid or reduce this problem, do not plant Camellia facing east where the blooms will catch the morning sun.
This problem occurs when there is frost followed by morning sun, which damages the buds and blooms, causing them to go brown, as in the image left. It is the combination of early morning sun and frost, which does the damage, and as a result, many of the shrub's flowers can look unsightly, similar to the image.
With Camellias, where you place the shrub in your garden is more important than with some other types of shrubs.
Problems when growing Camellia
The image below shows the two most common problems with Camellias: Unsightly browning of the blooms and yellowing leaves. The most common cause of yellow leaves is that the soil is insufficiently acidic. In which case, either replant in a container, or feed with ericaceous feed and don't use tap water. Wet and windy weather can turn the lovely blooms brown.
Another problem is that sometimes Camellias fail to flower. When this occurs, it is always worth trying an ericaceous feed in the spring and early summer. Flower drop can also be a problem if it is dry in the spring and summer. Water well to prevent flower drop. A mulch will help to preserve moisture. It's best to avoid watering with tap water because it contains calcium, which reduces the acidity. It is important to feed Camellias only with ericaceous feed and early in the year.
In case you are struggling with growing Camellia, take heart from the image below. I took this at a very well-known, prestigious garden, and the shrubs are looking far from ideal. It's not as easy as it sometimes looks.
How to prune Camellia
Camellias do not need routine pruning. However, if a camellia outgrows its space, you can prune it, even severely if needed. As always, timing is important. Remember that the buds on a Camellia form in summer and autumn. This means if you are to avoid cutting off the buds, you must prune just after flowering in the spring. There is no specific requirement to prune, and they will happily carry on growing without it.
When a Camellia requires renovative pruning and you prune hard, you should plan to do it over 2/3 growing seasons. To carry out a renovating prune, cut back hard by about 1/3 to 1/2 in late winter or early spring. It follows that the shrub will not flower, perhaps for the next couple of years. A lot of new growth will be thrown out. Thin out/prune again so that the shrub develops several sturdier branches to form the framework going forward.
Having said all of that, once established in the right place, a Camellia will happily get on with the business of growing and flowering with little attention; the trick is to plant it in the right place and soil to start with.
Problems growing Camellia yellowing foliage
One of the common problems when growing Camellia is yellowing foliage.
The image on the left shows a healthy Camellia planted in the right place, growing well with lovely glossy green leaves. The Camellia on the right is not enjoying the best conditions, reflected in its poor foliage.
Growing Camellias in containers
If you like Camellias but your growing conditions are not ideal, you can grow Camellias in containers. To grow in a container, it may be more manageable to select a smaller variety and a good-sized container filled with ericaceous compost. Mix into the compost some ericaceous fertiliser, slow release for one season or feed with ericaceous feed. Water with rainwater. A camellia in a pot will require repotting into a large container with fresh ericaceous compost as it develops. If you do not repot top dress, which is to scrape away the top 5cms of compost from the top of the container and replenish with fresh ericaceous compost. In the winter elevate from the ground to protect from frost using bricks. Place in a sheltered spot away from direct sunlight.
Some suggestions for varieties of Camellia to grow
Camellias are a popular choice for growing in containers. As long as the container is large enough, filled with ericaceous compost and placed in dappled shade, Camellias do well in containers.
Camellia x williamsii 'Donation' large pink semi-double flowers which flowers from late winter to mid-spring; 5m x 2.5m, will grow in a shaded position and is more hardy than Camellia japonica 'Adolphe Audusson which has bright red flowers in early spring, 5m x 4m
Camellia 'Cornish Snow' small, white single flowers in late winter; 3m x 1.5m. H4 rating
Also : Camellia japonica 'Tricolor' which as the name suggests blooms are white, striped red and pink. C x williamsii 'Brigadoon' semi double rose pink blooms. C. Japonica 'Elegans' large rose pink flowers.
I rather like to bold red of C. 'Drama girl' illustrated below.
Camellia 'Easter Morn
Camellia 'Drama girl
Cameilla 'E G Waterhouse'
