Planting and Caring for Camellias

Camellias thrive in any soil that has reasonable drainage and fertilisers added as necessary.  Adding composted material will always improve the quality of the soil.  The plants will stand, in fact enjoy, copious amounts of water provided that the equally important air is available to the root system.  For this reason heavy clays, which totally exclude air when wet, are not suitable without pre-preparation. Fibrous material can be added to open up the clay. The best results are often achieved by making raised beds to give the plants a depth of good soil before hitting the clay.

Sunlight or Shade?

Japonicas will stand full sun, if cared for while establishing (watering and mulching over the summer) but are a little better with shade at some part of the day.  Reticulatas should have good access to sun and should be planted in the open, not under other trees.  Sasanquas are very tolerant of sun or shade and are especially useful for hot sunny positions.  The small leafed species and hybrids in general will benefit from partial shade.

Acid soil or Alkaline?

Camellias are often wrongly referred to as very acid loving plants.  They will tolerate such conditions up to a point but are best in mildly acid conditions, as are suitable for the vast majority of shrubs.  Except in the few limestone areas in New Zealand, your camellias will benefit from an occasional sprinkle with dolomite lime.  Any effect on pH value will be beneficial but more importantly you will be feeding the plants the essential elements calcium and magnesium.

Mix peat in the planting hole?

Only to aerate a heavy soil.  To mix peat into an average or light soil appears to be unnecessary.  In light soils it may also over-aerate the soil around a newly planted camellia 's roots and give you problems in keeping this area moist over the summer while the plant establishes.  Mixing some composted material into the planting soil is highly recommended whatever the soil type.

How deep to plant?

After digging the planting hole – always generously wider and deeper than the root ball of the plant - remember that the soil you have broken up will settle downwards again. Plant your camellia with the crown an inch above the surrounding ground level.  It will then eventually come back to ground level.  The plant will suffer if the crown is buried below ground level at planting time.

How to get undamaged flowers?

Wind is the greatest source of damage to camellia flowers. Rain will not hurt them unless torrential or driven by a strong wind.  So a position protected from the wind will give you the best flowers.  As a general rule, the lighter the color of the flower, the more protection required.  For more exposed positions, sasanquas and dark colored japonicas and hybrids will give the best value.  Reticulata flowers do not bruise easily, and will give a good garden display in exposed conditions, but individual flowers will not be ‘show ’ quality in adverse weather.

Feeding Camellias

Mix some fertiliser into the planting soil.  This is the only opportunity you get to place fertiliser directly under the root ball.  The best fertilisers are the very slow release types such as Magamp or Osmocote Plus.

We do not recommend acid fertilisers.  Some of these formulations release too quickly and may injure plants, particularly the small leafed species and hybrids, which are very sensitive to over- fertilising.

The use of Sulphur &Epsom Salts

These are two additives often cited as being useful when sprinkled around camellias.  The case for using Sulphur developed from English writings where in their limestone and chalk country it may have value in balancing soil conditions. Sulphur is not a major requirement for camellias, and is usually amply available in the soil and from sulphate fertilisers.  Extra applications of sulphur are not recommended.  Epsom salts are magnesium sulphate, and with magnesium being a very important element for camellias, sparing applications may be beneficial.

Watering and mulching to conserve moisture over the first summer is most important to establish your plant and ensure better performance.

A variety of materials will make adequate mulch. Bark is long lasting and ornamental, a compost mulch of great benefit to the plant.  This care is particularly necessary when planting Reticulatas and the small leaf species and hybrids. Staking will help your plant to grip the ground and establish faster.  Small plants and precious grafts are best staked on two sides.  Animals, which will brush across a small plant,  detour around a pair of stakes.