Camellia Plant

Camellia plants – more info

Camellia plants offer bright, colourful flowers in the garden in winter and early spring. Their glossy green foliage is a real bonus, too. Easy to get started, camellia plants look their best in a semi-shady spot towards the back of a bed or in large containers flanking an entryway. Read our FAQ’s below to narrow down which camellia is right for you.

Which camellia plant grows best in shade?

Many camellia plants like shady conditions and do well in partial shade. For deeper shade, plant a Camellia sasanqua ‘Strawberry Swirl’. This delicate, open-flowered camellia thrives in darker spots and provides beautiful pink blooms with bold orange centres from October onwards.

Do bees and other pollinators like camellia flowers?

Bees love an open flowered camellia plant. Choose a plant like Camellia ‘Yuletide’ which flowers in glorious shades with thick, pollen-heavy stamens at the centre of the blooms. Bees and other pollinators appreciate this source of food at a time when not much else is blooming in the garden.

Which camellia grows well in full sun?

Camellia sasanqua performs well in sunnier conditions. Most camellias are at their best in partial shade. If you don’t have a spot in partial shade then fill a pot with ericaceous compost and grow your favourite camellia in a container where you can move it to a shadier position. With bright red blooms, Camellia 'Blooming Wonder Red' is a fantastic choice for growing in a large pot.