GROW A CAMELLIA

Camellias always impress with their spectacular autumn-to-spring flowers and evergreen foliage. They prefer acidic soil, so if you garden on limestone or clay they’ll need to be planted in a container of ericaceous compost. Give them a cool root run – they’re essentially woodland plants with shallow roots that need to be kept cool and moist. Choose your site carefully, a south or westfacing, sheltered position is ideal. Avoid planting where morning sun will shine on the plants – the flowers and leaves can be damaged by bright sun rupturing plant cells after a frosty night.