CLAY COUNTY – Fall and winter are not often the time that most people associate with flowering but some plants can be surprisingly amazing performers during cooler temperatures. One of these common landscape plants that deserves even more attention for its versatility is the camellia.
Background
Camellias represent a large group of evergreen shrubs and small trees native to Asia. In fact, teas are produced from Camellia sinensis, but you are unlikely to find these in the area even though it is possible. Camellia japonica, Camellia sasanqua, and their hybrids, have been utilized in American landscapes for over 200 years. They have proven time and time again to be great landscape performers and depending on the variety, can provide many interesting features.

Why use Camellias?
The main feature of most camellias are their attractive blooms that come in a variety of forms, sizes, colors, and timing. In fact, if you choose the proper varieties you can have almost continual flowering throughout the late winter and early spring and even the fall. Outside of their blooms, these plants are long-lived and work great as foundation shrubs, small trees, screens, or hedges. You can even find different plant sizes ranging from 25 feet down to three feet at maturity.
There is likely a camellia to fit almost any landscape as long growing conditions are correct.

Caring for Camellias
The key to proper camellia care starts with proper landscape placement. Camellia japonica does best in partial shade while sasanqua varieties can take full sun but prefer some shade in the afternoon. All varieties like fertile, acidic, well-drained soils. Get your soil tested to ensure that the pH is between 5.0-6.5 and amend if needed.
To make your soil more suitable for camellias mix 3-6 inches of organic matter into the top 12 inches of soil at planting throughout the planting bed. They will also benefit from a 2-3” layer of mulch but be sure to leave this away from the original root ball at planting and plant them one-two inches above the soil line. Allow space for them to grow to their full size as well as heavy pruning will reduce flowering and performance.
Fertilization once or twice a year during the spring and early summer is usually adequate with about half a pound of a slow release fertilizer per 100 square feet of planting bed. Use a product that has equal amounts of nitrogen and potassium but is low in phosphorous such as 12-4-12, 15-5-15, or similar. These are drought tolerant plants, but some extra irrigation may be required during extended droughts, especially if they are planted in higher sun areas.
If pruning is needed, do so in late spring or early summer so as not to remove the buds that will become blooms in the fall or winter. Some pests to keep an eye out for include tea scale, aphids, and spider mites. Dieback, leaf and bud gall, leaf spot, and root rots may affect them, but risks can be lessened by planting them in the proper location and sanitizing pruning tools after each cut on plants.
For more information on Camellias and some outstanding varieties visit https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep002 or reach out to your local UF/IFAS Extension Office. For UF/IFAS Extension Clay County, contact us at IF-SVC-Clay-MG@ufl.edu or call (904)284-6355.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions, or affiliations. USDA, UF/IFAS Extension, FAMU and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating.