Camellias are by nature evergreen woodland shrubs or small trees. They prefer an acid, leafy soil and some shade and protection from early morning sun for the flower buds.
The flowers are classed in various forms including single, semi double, Peony form, Anemone form, Rose form or Formal double. Camellia Japonica and Reticulata Camellias are the most common base for many hybrids but the large family of Camellias includes plants that produce Tea, Charcoal and Oils for cosmetics.
Camellia Cultivation Tips
- Do not plant too near a wall or hedge and deprive the plant of a normal ration of rain and flower buds will drop
- Fertilizer suitable for ericacious plants such as Rhododendrons and Azalea will help the plant take up nutrients and stop yellow leaves.
- Try a foliar feed of Sequestrene if leaves are showing yellow or poor quality
- Keep roots protected from a deep frost by mulch or wrap a pot in sacking
- pH soil of 5.5- 6.5 is sufficiently acid and aluminium sulphate or ferrous sulpahte will help reduce soils pH. If your soil is unsuitable plant camellias in a large pot with special compost
- Do not plant in a draft but Camellias will stand in a wind
- Prune to get strong lateral growth and cut flowers back to a side shoot
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