24 named cultivars

shrub

Japanese Camellia

Camellia japonica

Same species

24 named cultivars

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Shrub

Height

132 inches

Width

96 inches

Light

Partial Sun, Shade

Zones

7, 8, 9

Water

Medium; steady moisture, especially in summer

Humidity

Prefers humid air; dislikes drying wind

Lifespan

Very long-lived; a century or more is possible

Native To

China, Korea and central to southern Japan

Toxicity

No significant toxicity reported

The Story

Plant Bio

Camellia japonica is a broadleaf evergreen shrub from China, Korea and central to southern Japan, growing slowly to about 10 to 13 ft tall and 5 to 10 ft wide. The habit is dense, erect and pyramidal to columnar. Alternate leaves are leathery, lustrous dark green and 2 to 4 in long with serrated margins. The 3 to 6 in cup-shaped flowers open through winter and early spring, when almost nothing else is in bloom, in white, pink, red, yellow-tinted and variegated forms. Flower buds are set the previous summer, so a dry August costs you the following winter's display, and buds can brown and drop after a hard freeze.

Uses & Benefits:

Large formal flowers through winter and early spring above glossy evergreen foliage that carries the plant year-round.

Long-lived evergreen structure for shaded borders, tolerant of salt and largely ignored by deer.

Flowers attract pollinators at a lean time of year and the dense canopy gives wintering birds cover.

Planting

How to Grow

Choose a partly shaded site sheltered from early morning sun.
Test the soil; it must be acid, ideally pH 5.5 to 6.5.
Plant into rich, well-drained ground high, with the root ball proud.
Mulch 2-3 in deep with pine bark or leaf mould, off the stem.
Water deeply through summer while next year's buds form.
Prune only just after flowering finishes, never in summer.

Pro Tip

Next winter's flowers are set in midsummer, so August drought, not February frost, is the usual reason for a bloomless plant.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Site it out of direct early morning winter sun ❄️
Keep the soil acid and rich in organic matter 🍂
Water steadily through summer bud formation 💧
Prune immediately after the last flowers fade ✂️

Don't

Do not plant it deep or bury the root flare in mulch ❌
Do not let it dry out in midsummer ❌
Do not leave fallen brown flowers under the plant ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Prune After Flowering
Summer Watering

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Winter-flowering evergreen in a shaded shrub borderEspaliered or trained against a sheltered wallWoodland garden understorey with acid-loving companions

Companion Plants

Azalea Japanese pieris Hellebore Autumn fern Daphne

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Japanese Camellia questions

What zones can Japanese Camellia grow in?

Japanese Camellia is hardy in USDA Zones 7–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Japanese Camellia deer resistant?

Yes — Japanese Camellia is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Japanese Camellia bloom?

Japanese Camellia typically blooms in winter to spring through mid-spring. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Japanese Camellia need full sun?

Japanese Camellia does best in part shade.