How to Grow and Care for Japanese camellia

Japanese camellia, also known as Common camellia, Rose of winter, Tsubaki

Japanese camellia thrives in well-draining acidic soil and partial shade, avoiding direct afternoon sun. Watering should be consistent to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Special care is required to protect japanese camellia from harsh winter conditions and to maintain a mulch layer for root protection. Pruning immediately after blooming helps in maintaining shape and promoting next season's blooms.

Watering schedule: Every 1-2 weeks

Sunlight Requirements: Partial sun

In This Article

Planting and Growing Japanese camellia

Toughness	High
Care Level	Low
Care Difficulty	Moderate
Lifespan	Perennial
Watering Schedule	Every 1-2 weeks
Sunlight Requirements	Partial sun
Soil pH	5.5-6.5
Planting Time	Spring, Fall
Hardiness Zones	8-10

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Varieties of Japanese camellia

Japanese camellia 'Bob Hope'

Japanese camellia 'Bob Hope' is named for Bob Hope, the popular British-American comedian (1903 - 2003). It is a showy Carmelia, notable for its particularly bright red flowers that feature pronounced yellow stamens offering a delightful color contrast. The flower petals are ruffled and bloom in early to mid-spring.

Japanese camellia 'Lavinia Maggi'

Japanese camellia 'Lavinia Maggi' is a standout camelia that has broad white flowers with rose-pink petal markings, in contrast to the uniformly-colored flowers of the parent plant. This hybrid has received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society and thoroughly deserves the pedigree of being named for an Italian countess.

Japanese camellia 'Jupiter'

A winner of the Award of Garden Merit, japanese camellia 'Jupiter' is renowned for its single or semi-double rose-red petals and bright yellow stamens. Cultivated as a hybrid of other camellia variants, this cultivar was named for its distinctive appearance: the yellow boss with "rings" of scarlet petals. Japanese camellia 'Jupiter' is loved for its striking ornamental value and ease of care.

Japanese camellia 'Anticipation'

Japanese camellia 'Anticipation' is a compact shrub that offers a profuse show of rose-pink flowers among dark evergreen foliage. It is a cross between Camellia japonica and Camellia saluenensis, first bred in Cornwall, England in 1923. Choose this lovely showy plant for your cottage or informal garden.

Japanese camellia 'Guilio Nuccio'

This cultivar has a showier bloom. The japanese camellia 'Guilio Nuccio' has colorfully salmon-pink flowers, rounded with yellow eyes and spots of white. Its dark green foliage provides the perfect background to its colors. Coming from the Japanese camellia plant, this cultivar grows in an upright, spreading manner, and is appreciated for being low maintenance.

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More General Info About Japanese camellia

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Japanese camellia is characterized by its glossy, leathery leaves that measure about 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.6 cm) in length, with finely serrated edges. These evergreen leaves are notably coriaceous, offering a year-round display of lush foliage. The plant is recognized for its prominent, axillary flowers, which are typically double in form and substantial in size, blooming in the late winter to early spring months, approximately from February to April.