Here’s How To Plant And Grow Camellia Japonica – The RHS Award Winning Species
Elizabeth is a Permaculture Garden Designer, Sustainability Consultant and Professional Writer, working as an advocate for positive change. She graduated from the University of St. Andrews with an MA in English and Philosophy and obtained a Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design from the Permaculture Association.
Reviewed By COLIN SKELLY
Colin is a Horticulturist and Horticultural Consultant with experience in a range of practical and managerial roles across heritage, commercial and public horticulture. He holds the Royal Horticultural Society’s Master of Horticulture award and has a particular interest in horticultural ecology and naturalistic planting for habitat and climate resilience.
Contributions From LORRAINE SUMMERS
Lorraine has worked with camellia plants for over 40 years. Based in Wimborne (Dorset), the nursery has various camellia species, cultivars and hybrids for sale and has links to the International Camellia Society.
Patricia has over 35 years of experience growing camellias in her garden and is passionate about the joy they can bring to the dull winter months.
Sue Fisher is a freelance Garden Designer and Consultant with previous experience in trade, who has delivered talks and designed gardens across the country. A previous winner of the Garden Writers Guild Trade Press Writer of the Year, Sue has written several books for the BBC and is now a regular writer for BBC Gardeners' World. Sue is also a member of the Garden Media Guild.
Camellia japonica is a popular species of shrub with a range of interesting cultivars to choose from.
Learn more about it, how to choose a variety and how to grow and care for it in this guide.
These plants are beloved by gardeners, who prize their glossy evergreen foliage and their spring flowers.
“I love fragrant plants that attract wildlife because I am very much a nature-friendly gardener,” shares Sue Fisher, an award-winning garden designer.
“I have a Camellia shrub that is wonderful for pollinators and I love it.”
Overview
| Botanical Name | Camellia japonica |
| Common Name(s) | Common Camellia; Japanese Camellia |
| Plant Type | Shrub |
| Native Area | China, Japan and Korea |
| Hardiness Rating | H5 |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Flowers | Showy white or pink flowers |
| When To Plant | October to November |
| When To Prune | April to May |
Sunlight
Preferred
Full to Part Shade
Exposure
Sheltered
Size
Height
8 – 12M
Spread
4 – 8M
Bloom Time
Spring
Soil
Preferred
Clay, loam or sand
Moisture
Moist but well-drained
pH
Acidic to neutral
Common camellia, also known as ‘Japanese Camellia’, is a species of flowering shrub in the Theaceae plant family.
It is native to China, southern Korea and Japan, where it is known to grow in the wild in forests, specifically at altitudes between around 300-1100m.1Camellia japonica. (n.d.-b). NBN Atlas. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://species.nbnatlas.org/species/NBNSYS0500000250
Although they are usually seen as smaller shrubs in gardens, in the wild they can grow into much larger shrubs or trees.
“Camellias have such lovely flowers and colours, and they brighten up the dull days in the early part of the year,” says Lorraine Summers, Owner of Trehane Camellia and Blueberry Nursery.
The oldest C. japonicas in Europe are believed to have been planted in the 16th century after already being cultivated in Asia for hundreds of years before.2Ancient camellias in Galicia and Portugal. (n.d.). International Camellia Society. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://internationalcamellia.org/en-us/articles/historical/ancient-camellias-in-galicia-and-portugal
Common Varieties
“I always look for an RHS Award of Garden Merit if I have a choice to make between plants,” says Colin Skelly, a Horticulturist who has previous experience at The Eden Project.
“It means that it has been trialled and found to perform reliably in gardens.
“These plants can be considered tried and tested and a good bet if you’re making a planting decision.”
Some of the notable cultivars of Camellia japonica that you can choose from that have received the RHS Award of Garden Merit are:
- C. japonica ‘Adelina Patti’
- C. japonica ‘Alexander Hunter’
- C. japonica ‘Ballet Dancer’
- C. japonica ‘Bob Hope’
- C. japonica ‘Drama Girl’
- C. japonica ‘Gloire de Nantes’
- C. japonica ‘Hagoromo’
- C. japonica ‘Jupiter’
- C. japonica ‘Lavinia Maggi’
- C. japonica ‘Mars’
- C. japonica ‘Nuccio’s Gem’
- C. japonica ‘San Dimas’
- C. japonica ‘Tricolor’
Each of these would make an excellent starting point for growing in the UK’s climate.3AGM Plants July 2021. (n.d.). Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf
There are also numerous hybrids, such as C. japonica x williamsii, which have received an RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Planting
Japanese camellias are best planted out in the autumn, while the soil is still warm, so that they can establish strong root systems before the winter arrives.
Most cultivars of C. japonica will do best if planted in an area with partial or dappled shade.
Remember that these are relatively large shrubs, so you should allow at least 3-5m between these shrubs if you are planting more than one.
Where To Grow Common Camellia
C. japonica will work well in a low-maintenance garden as long as the environmental and soil conditions are appropriate.
They will look great among other Asian species in a Japanese-style garden.
They will also be at home in a traditional cottage garden, or in beds or borders in gardens of many other types.
C. japonicas can also work well in city and courtyard gardens, and some cultivars are suitable for container cultivation.
Sometimes, it is even grown as a houseplant indoors.
Camellia Japonica Care
Overwintering
Common Camellia are hardy plants, with an RHS hardiness rating of H5.
This means that they are hardy enough to make it through the coldest months in most places throughout the UK, even during severe winters.
However, they should be placed in a sheltered spot, as they can be damaged by cold and drying winds.
Buds and flowers may also be damaged by chilly temperatures and late frosts.
Aspect
Since C. japonica likes some shade, a south-facing spot may not be ideal.
However, north, west and east-facing aspects can often work fine.
One thing to note is that an east-facing spot where a camellia gets early morning sun is not ideal, because, in winter, this can cause the flower buds to dry out and thaw too quickly, increasing the chance of damage.
Soil Requirements
One of the most important things to remember when deciding where to grow C. japonicas is that these are ericaceous plants and will do best in acidic soil.
If you have alkaline soil then it would be best to grow your camellias in containers filled with ericaceous peat-free compost or to choose plants better suited to the growing conditions that you can provide.
The soil or growing medium should be moist but well-drained or well-drained.
Watering
Camellia japonicas should be watered regularly until they become established.
“Camellias should be kept well-watered in August and September, as this can help to prevent bud drop in the spring,” Patricia explains.
So, for the first year and a half or so, water regularly through the summer months, providing more water if the plants are grown in containers.
Aim to keep the soil consistently moist at around 10cm below the surface.
If in doubt, dig with a trowel to check if the soil is dry at this depth.
When watering your garden, it is always best to use rainwater rather than tap water.
If you have not already set up a rainwater harvesting system, make it a priority to do so right away.
Watering with rainwater is especially important for camellias and other ericaceous plants if you live in a hard water area.
Pruning & Training
You can deadhead C. japonica when the flowers begin to fade to keep it looking fresh.
However, this is not strictly necessary, as it is only for aesthetic reasons and will not have any impact on flowering the following year.
Regular pruning is not needed for C. japonica, but if they grow larger than you want them to grow, you can give them a light trim after flowering has ended.
If you wish to cut back harder to reduce the size of the shrub, this is best done in March, but note that hard pruning will mean that you will not have good flowering again for at least a couple of years.
Feeding
It can be beneficial to mulch around camellia plants with an ericaceous mulch each year in early spring.
This will help retain moisture and will also provide slow-release fertility.
You may also boost a plant that looks undernourished by feeding it with an organic fertiliser suitable for ericaceous plants in early spring.
Be careful not to feed excessively and always stop feeding by the end of July at the latest.
If you overdo the fertiliser or feed too late, this can lead to bud drop.
Pot Growing
C. japonica can be a good choice for container growing.
Just remember that pots should be filled with an ericaceous medium that has a pH of between 5-6.5.
Make sure that you choose a container a little larger than the existing root system of the plant.
Common Pests & Problems
Many of the common problems seen in C. japonica plants stem from a problem with environmental conditions or care.
As long as you take note of all the above, place them in a suitable location and care for them correctly, they should be a relatively trouble-free plant.
However, there are some problems that may arise, including:
- Fungal diseases (camellia gall, leaf or petal blight and root rot).
- Pests like vine weevil – which are more commonly seen on container-grown plants.
Companion Planting
Great companions for camellias are other plants which thrive in acidic soil conditions and in partial shade.
In our interview, Patricia Short from the International Camellia Society suggested these companions for C. japonica:
I think that some other great choices are:
- Japanese maples
- Azaleas
- Rhododendrons
- Heathers
- Hellebores
- Heucheras
- Hostas
Propagating
C. japonica can be propagated by means of semi-ripe or hardwood cuttings, layering or grafting.
FAQs
How Big Does Camellia japonica Grow?
C. japonica will grow into large shrubs and can ultimately be up to 10m tall and 8m wide.
However, often they will remain somewhat smaller and growth can be restricted a little through light pruning if required.
Fortunately, they are also pretty slow growing.
If growing in pots, repotting will usually only be required every few years.
Where Is The Best Place To Plant Camellias?
In dappled or partial shade, in acidic soil, with a west-facing aspect.
Does Common Camellia Make A Good Hedge?
C. japonica can potentially be used to make a hedge in suitably shaded sot with acidic soil, but you will have to be very patient and dedicated since they grow slowly, and maintenance will take a lot of work.
A different Camellia, C. sasanqua, is more commonly used to make hedges.
This other plant has smaller leaves and a tighter habit of growth.