PlantSowGrow
How to plant and care for Camellia (japonica)
Camellia japonica
Glossy evergreen leaves and perfect red, pink or white flowers in late winter and spring. Needs acidic soil or a pot of ericaceous compost.
When to plant and care for it
Timed for a typical UK garden (last frost mid-April). The app uses your own town's frost dates.
Growing Camellia (japonica): what it needs
- Light
- Part shade · 6+ hours a day
- Watering
- Water with rainwater; never let pots dry out in late summer
- Soil
- Acidic soil or ericaceous compost
- Spacing
- 1.5 m
- Height
- 2–3 m
- In pots
- Grows well in containers
- Feeding
- Ericaceous feed after flowering
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 7–9
Step by step
- On planting day
Plant
Plant at the same depth as it was in its pot, 1.5 m apart, and firm in.
- 0–1 days after “Plant”
Water In Well
Give a full can of water, then keep moist for the first few weeks while roots establish.
- 7–14 days after “Water In Well”
Mulch Around the Base
Spread 5 cm of compost or bark around the plant, keeping it off the stems.
Every year
- MarchIn Flower
In flower — take a photo. Keep flowers out of the early-morning sun to avoid frost browning.
- AprilEricaceous Feed
After flowering, feed with an ericaceous fertiliser.
- MayLight Prune
Trim straggly shoots straight after flowering.
- AugustWater While Buds Form
Next year's buds form in late summer — dry roots now make buds drop in spring. Use rainwater.
