“Few can rival the camellia for standout glamour,” says Camilla

Few flowers can rival camellias for standout glamour. If you get the soil and aspect right, growing these cold season beauties is sure to be a doddle, says Camilla Phelps

THE signature flower of Coco Chanel and popular with 20th century French novelist Marcel Proust – who wore a white one in his buttonhole rather than the customary red carnation – the camellia is certainly a classy bloom. Bold yet elegant, sumptuous and romantic, the flowers appear when there is precious little colour around, bringing a splash of joy to the winter garden.

Camellias are evergreen shrubs with bright, glossy, green foliage. They love a shady spot and, despite once being considered tender plants (they were traditionally grown in greenhouses), 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, which turns them brown, but generally camellias are relatively trouble-free, with few pest and disease problems. Though do watch out for camellia blight, a fungal disease that can cause the blooms to drop.

Big returns

They come in a variety of sizes, but are generally slow growing, require little pruning and only occasional feeding. You’ll need to water with rainwater and an annual mulch with composted bark chippings will pay dividends. But for a plant that is relatively low-maintenance, the rewards are incredibly 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 successfully in the ground, although most will perform just as well when grown in pots filled with ericaceous compost.

Being upright shrubs, they can be cultivated in a wide range of situations – against walls, as hedges, freestanding on their own, or in groups with other shade-loving, woodland plants.

There are thousands of different colours and types to choose from. The

Showcased by their backdrop of deep green, glossy leaves, blooms come in white, cream, pinks and bold red, in a range of shapes, many of them stop-you-in-your-tracks beautiful

A white variety such as C. japonica ‘Noblissima’ is the epitome of elegance