Camellia Care & Planting Tips

Camellias are excellent choices for adding beauty to partially shaded areas of the landscape. These shrubs retain their glossy, deep green foliage throughout the year and reward gardeners with beautiful single or double flowers during the colder months. Thousands of camellia hybrids are available, providing an impressive range of flower colors, including pure white, two-tone combinations, pinks, and rich shades of red.

Camellias come in many different forms and sizes. Some larger varieties can be trained into small trees, while others remain compact and shrub-like. In Arkansas, two primary species are commonly grown. Sasanqua camellias generally flower from late autumn into early winter and have relatively small leaves and blooms. Japonica camellias usually flower from late winter into early spring and tend to have larger foliage.

Many hybrids are also available, with selected cultivars offering useful traits such as improved tolerance to cold. Because japonicas flower later in the season, their blooms are more vulnerable to late spring frosts. Nevertheless, their large, richly layered flowers often make the risk worthwhile.

In the landscape, camellias can serve many purposes. They work well as individual specimen plants, informal or formal hedges, privacy screens, and even container-grown plants.

Caring for Camellias

Camellias are relatively straightforward to maintain when planted in the right location. Choose a spot with shade or partial sunlight, ideally an area receiving morning sun followed by afternoon shade. They perform best in fertile, moisture-retentive soil that still drains well.

As camellias become larger, their expanding canopy naturally shades the root zone, allowing established plants to tolerate somewhat more sunlight. These shrubs appreciate consistent moisture, particularly when they are actively growing. During prolonged dry weather, provide additional water to encourage healthy new growth.

Planting depth is especially important with camellias. They generally perform poorly when buried too deeply. Set the plant approximately 1–2 inches higher than the surrounding ground level, then gently slope the soil toward the exposed sides of the root ball.

Do not bury the root ball beneath additional soil. Instead, apply mulch around the plant and use only a thin layer over the top of the root ball if necessary. After planting, water the camellia thoroughly to settle the soil and establish good root contact.

Pruning Camellias

Pruning can be used to maintain the desired size and shape of a camellia, but selective cuts are preferable to aggressively trimming the entire shrub. Allowing the plant to retain its natural form generally produces a more attractive result.

Never remove more than approximately one-third of the plant at one time. If the interior has become crowded, selectively remove some branches to open the canopy and allow additional room for flowers to develop and display properly.

Removing or shortening some lower branches can encourage the plant to grow in a more upright form. If the upper portion becomes thin and elongated, cutting back overly long stems can stimulate fuller growth and create a more balanced appearance.

The best time to prune is after the threat of spring frost has passed and the current flowers have finished blooming. Timing is critical because camellias begin forming their flower buds during late summer. Pruning too late in the season can remove developing buds and result in considerably fewer flowers the following blooming period.

Fertilizing Camellias

Camellias prefer acidic growing conditions, which are naturally common in many areas of central Arkansas. After flowering, apply a fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants, such as a camellia or azalea fertilizer. This supplies essential nutrients while also helping maintain an appropriate soil pH.

A soil pH between 5.5 and 6.5 is generally suitable for camellias. When the soil becomes too alkaline or otherwise falls outside the preferred range, the plant may have difficulty taking up nutrients from fertilizer.

Evergreen/Azalea Food with Systemic Insecticide is one fertilizer option that can also provide protection against scale insects. In the southeastern United States, camellias are commonly fertilized in March, May, and again in early July.

When applying fertilizer, pull the mulch away from the plant until you reach the drip line. Spread the product directly over the soil rather than placing it against the trunk or stems. Water the area thoroughly after fertilizing.

Whenever a plant has particular soil requirements, performing a pH test is a useful step before making adjustments. Simple soil-testing kits can provide a convenient way to check conditions. Regardless of which fertilizer you choose, always read the product directions and apply it according to the recommended instructions.

Common Camellia Problems to Watch For

Although camellias are generally dependable evergreen shrubs, they can be affected by scale insects. Applying dormant horticultural oil and using a systemic insecticide soil treatment each year can help manage this pest.

The acid-loving plant fertilizer mentioned above also contains a systemic insecticide and can provide effective control of scale when used according to its directions.

Yellow foliage may be a sign of iron deficiency. If the leaves begin turning yellow, test the soil pH first and make adjustments if the reading is above 6.5. In some cases, applying an iron supplement may also be necessary to help restore healthy leaf color and growth.