Camellias: Beautiful fall and winter bloomers

Rare are the plants in our landscape that bloom in fall and winter, and perhaps that’s why camellias are such a treasured plant in the South. They really have no rival when it comes to the floral display that they put on during the coldest part of the year.

As many experienced gardeners are probably aware, there are two different species of camellia commonly found in our area, Camellia sasanqua and Camellia japonica. Despite what the names might lead you to believe, both are native to Japan, not just the japonica species. Both are slow growing, dense, slightly pyramidal-shaped large shrubs that like moist, well-drained, acidic soil. Sasanquas and japonicas are different in a number of ways that are important for gardeners to know. For starters, sasanquas are generally a smaller plant. They generally grow to a height of about 6-10 feet, compared to 10-15 feet for the japonicas. Sasanquas have smaller leaves and flowers as well. Though flowering time varies quite a bit within each species, sasanquas tend to bloom earlier, in mid to late fall, while japonicas often flower from January through March.

Although it is a treat to have plants that can produce such spectacular blooms during the coldest part of the year, camellia petals can often be damaged by especially cold temperatures, turning brown around the edges. This is true of both species. Plants themselves are hardy, but will need protection from cold winter winds. Often they’ll do best when placed near a wall or building where they’ll have some shelter during the coldest part of the year. Of the two species, Camellia japonica tends to be a bit more winter hardy.

Top left: ‘Autumn Spirit’ is a cold-hardy fall-winter blooming camellia bred at UNC-Chapel Hill. Photo: C. DeWitt, CC BY 4.0 Top right: Camellia japonica do best when placed near a wall or building that provides shelter during the coldest part of the year. Photo: C. Dewitt, CC BY 4.0 Middle left:  The roselike flower of ‘Ashton’s Ballet,’ an Ackerman hybrid, has double flowers in November and December. Middle right: ‘Snow Flurry’ is one of the earliest cold-hard fall-blooming Ackerman camellias. Bottom row:  The flowers and leaves of camellia sasanqua are smaller than those of camellia japonica.

A series of cold-hardy camellia hybrids known as the Ackerman hybrids was developed to be more tolerant of extreme winter conditions. These are named after the plant breeder William Ackerman of Ashton, Maryland, who began working on cold hardiness after the entire collection of camellias at the US National Arboretum in Washington D.C. was nearly lost following a series of cold winters in the late 1970s. Cultivars such as ‘Winter’s Beauty,’ ‘Winter’s Charm,’ ‘Winter’s Star,’ and ‘Polar Ice’ are part of the Ackerman hybrid group.

Another series of cold-hardy camellias was bred by Dr. Clifford Parks, former director of the Coker Arboretum at UNC-Chapel Hill. ‘Survivor’, ‘Twilight Glow’, and ‘Autumn Spirit’ are cold-hardy fall-winter blooming camellias, and ‘Red Aurora’ and ‘April Tryst’ are late winter/early spring bloomers with increased cold hardiness.

Camellias do have a few relatively minor pest problems, such as scale, aphids, and spider mites, which cause some light cosmetic damage. Many of these are avoidable or at least controllable if the plants are grown in the right environment – partial-shade locations with moist, well-drained soil, and a fair amount of organic matter. Locations where azaleas or mophead hydrangeas thrive are typically also adequate for camellias, though the camellias will take up a larger amount of space.

Matthew Stevens is the horticulture extension agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s Pitt County Center. If you have any questions about this article or other aspects of your home gardening, please contact the Pitt County Master Gardener Infoline at 252-902-1705.