Photo credits and licenses
Real photographs from naturalists and photographers worldwide, each used under its own license. Credit: Photo by Hugo Innes / iNaturalist (CC BY) and Photo by Hugo Innes / iNaturalist (CC BY). How photos are sourced →
Camellia
Camellia japonica
Camellia blooms from January through March.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Camellia
Plant it in part shade. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 7–9. Expect it to reach about 6.6 ft tall and 4.9 ft wide at maturity, in roughly 5 years.
When to plant Camellia
Plant Camellia in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, or in early fall at least six weeks before your first frost, so roots establish in cool weather. For the middle of its hardy zones 7 to 9 range, spring means February to April and fall means September or October. Once settled, it blooms from January to March.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 8 in February.
Comes in 10 varieties across 3 colors
Same plant, same care - pick the color you are growing.
Good to know about Camellia
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Worth knowing
Camellias must have acidic soil, roughly pH 5.5 to 6.5. On alkaline ground the leaves yellow from chlorosis as iron and other nutrients lock up out of reach. per NC State and Clemson
Two plants, one name
Japonica blooms late winter to early spring and needs part shade; sasanqua blooms in fall, takes more sun, resists drought, and largely escapes petal blight. Identify yours first. per NC State and UC IPM
Petal blight, worst disease
Petal blight, a fungus, is the worst camellia disease and attacks only the flowers: brown blotches spread until the whole bloom is dead within 24 to 48 hours. per Clemson and UC IPM
Tea scale, the top pest
Tea scale, its worst insect pest, hides on leaf undersides and shows as yellow mottling on top. Horticultural oil helps, but clearing a heavy case takes 2 to 3 years. per Clemson and UGA
Safe around pets
Good news for pet owners: the ASPCA lists garden camellia as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses, and NC State agrees. Note that Camellia sinensis, the tea plant, is different. per ASPCA and NC State
Prune right after flowering
Camellias set next year's flower buds on old wood the season before, so prune right after the flowers fade. Prune later and you cut off next year's blooms. per NC State and Clemson
What pairs well with Camellia
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Cyclamen
Shares part shade and moderate water; blooms in early fall, before this one opens; low at 8 in, to carpet the ground beneath; echoes the pink.
Bacopa
Takes part sun to part shade and moderate water; blooms in late spring, extending the bed's season; low at 6 in, to carpet the ground beneath; its white flowers settle the pink.
Flowering Dogwood
Shares part shade and moderate water; blooms in mid spring as this one finishes; taller at 23 ft, for the layer behind it; its white flowers settle the pink.
Wishbone Flower
Shares part shade and moderate water; blooms in early summer, extending the bed's season; low at 10 in, to carpet the ground beneath.
Lobelia
Takes part sun to part shade and moderate water; blooms in late spring, extending the bed's season; low at 8 in, to carpet the ground beneath.
Bugleweed
Shares part shade and moderate water; blooms in mid spring as this one finishes; low at 6 in, to carpet the ground beneath.
Bleeding Heart
Shares part shade and moderate water; blooms in mid spring as this one finishes; lower at 2.3 ft, for the front of the border; echoes the pink.
Eastern Redbud
Takes part sun to part shade and moderate water; blooms in mid spring as this one finishes; taller at 23 ft, for the layer behind it; purple sits close to pink on the wheel.
Featured in these guides
Explore similar plants
You might also like
Design a garden with this
Drop this plant onto a 3D plan, see how it fills in, and watch your whole garden bloom across the year.