Warm up winter with Camellias
Hardy, gorgeous, early flowering and relatively trouble-free, camellias are the ideal choice for the colder months – and now is the perfect time to plant them, says Camilla Phelps
Who wouldn’t want to grow a camellia? The sumptuous, colourful blooms appear when there is precious little else in flower, bringing a splash of joy to any garden in winter. These evergreen shrubs, with bright glossy green foliage, are bold and elegant – and what’s more, they love a shady spot.
Although camellias were at first considered tender plants, and were traditionally grown in greenhouses, they are hardy enough to be very happy outdoors in the UK climate. Flower buds may need temporary protection during periods of extreme cold and frost, but generally camellias are relatively troublefree, with few pest and disease problems – although camellia blight, a fungal disease, can cause flowers to drop.
They come in a variety of sizes, but are generally slow growing; they need little pruning and only occasional feeding. And for a relatively low maintenance plant, the rewards are very high.
For camellia success, the two things you have to get right are the aspect and the soil. They prefer shade, but will suit most locations apart from east-facing, as early morning sun can harm the flowers. And they need acid soil to grow happily in the ground, although most will perform just as well in pots.
Being upright shrubs they can be grown in a wide range of situations against walls, as hedges, freestanding on their own or in groups, or with other shade-loving, woodland plants.
There are thousands of different colours and types of camellia to choose from. The earliest flowering varieties are mostly in the Sasanqua group, with blooms appearing from october onwards. But other varieties will flower as late as April. Camellia hybrids range in colour from white through to pink and deep red, and blooms can be single or double flowered, formal, peony or anemone style; some are even scented. The most reliable varieties tend to be
Camellia x williamsii hybrids.
With so many to choose from, a camellia can be the perfect gift for a special occasion, and not surprisingly all of the big anniversaries and celebrations are covered, from ‘Ruby Wedding’ and ‘Silver Wedding’ to Christmas (courtesy of Camellia vernalis ‘Yuletide’).
If you don’t already have a camellia in your garden, autumn is the best time to plant one. Choose a shrub with plenty of buds forming and you should get a good display in your first season.