Camellias are a slow growing evergreen shrub with rich shiny green foliage and beautiful flowers.
Originally from Europe, they tend to prefer cooler climates and can live for over one hundred years.
Camellia flowers can come in a variety of colours including white, yellow, pink, red and any mixture of the above. There are thousands of different varieties including those that are grown for black, green and white tea (camellia sinensis). Although some people find the camellia somewhat difficult to grow, they actually require very little care and are extremely hardy once established.
Soil Quality
The best soil PH for camellias is around 6.0 – 8.0 (acidic). They enjoy a sandy loamy soil with plenty of organic matter in the mix. Suitable soil needs to be well drained as soaked soil for extended periods can easily kill a camellia or cause fungal diseases and rootrot. Cover the soil with a small amount of mulch, but avoid placing the mulch too close to the trunk of the camellia as this can lead to disease. To find out how well your soil drains, dig a hole at least 20 centimetres deep, fill it with water, let it drain and fill it again after a few minutes. If the water fails to drain within 10 minutes the second time the soil is not well draining enough for camellias.
Planting Camellias
Camellias can be planted at any time of year but young plants do not do well in frost and need to be protected for their first winter. Late winter is usually the best time to plant them. When planting camellias in the ground you first need to make sure that the soil matches the properties of that mentioned above.
If the soil is not right, you will need to add suitable soil to the area and dig it into the existing soil.
You will need to dig a hole at least 20 centimetres wider than the root ball and somewhat deeper. Add a small amount of organic matter such as compost or mulch to the bottom of the hole to help drainage and give the plant an easy source of nutrients. Loosen the roots around the edge of the root ball to help the plant establish quickly. Fill in the hole with good soil and water the camellia in well.
Location
Camellias prefer partial shade, this produces the best flowers and, too much sun can burn their leaves and flowers. Windy locations also need to be avoided as this can damage flowers when in excess. Camellias can be grown indoors as long as they are near a window and get plenty of light, but when watering, only give the plant minimal water to avoid water building up in the container tray wich will leave the soil soggy and expose the plant to disease such as root rot. Camellias plant can also be used as a hedge and tolerate being pruned regularly. The root system will not damage pipes or paths, so there aren’t any limitations in this area.
Propagation
Seeds are an unreliable form of propagation for camellias because in most cases, the quality of the plant is far less than that of its parent plant, and it can take between 5 – 20 years before the new plants will flower. Propagation by cuttings is the preferred method. The plants are true to the parent plant and can flower within two or three years. Some cultivars do not work as cuttings and therefore need to be propagated by grafting.
Pests
There are very few pests that effect camellias. As with many plants, aphids feast near new growth and buds, but can easily be fought off by spraying a light mixture of dishwashing soap and water or alternatively, pyrethrum.
Mites can also be a problem, but can be removed by thoroughly hosing the foliage of the plant.
Diseases
Camellias are affected by a number of diseases, phytophthora cinnamomi, a strain of root rot which usually attacks camellia japonica, and can be avoided by making sure that your plant is well drained. Another common disease is petal blight, a fungal disease that causes brown patches on the flower petals. This disease can be controlled by removing any infected flowers from the base of the plant as regularly as possible.
Camellia Care
Camellias require very little water, usually around one water per week while the plant is establishing, and once a week when there is a lack of rain. Because they are slow growing, camellias require minimal fertilising. Fertilise once a year using cottonseed meal or camellia food after the plant has finished flowering. It is best to follow the fertiliser instructions on the packet.
