PlantSowGrow
How to plant and care for Camellia (japonica)
Camellia japonica
Also called common camellia, Japanese camellia
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.
