Species

Camellia sasanquaSasanqua Camellia

38 other cultivars

shrub

Christmas Carol Camellia

Camellia sasanqua 'Christmas Carol'

The Story

Plant Bio

Camellias are evergreen shrubs from East Asia valued for dark glossy foliage and cold-season flowers when most garden flora is dormant. They rely on acidic, organic-rich soil with high drainage and perform best under filtered canopy shade.

'Christmas Carol' bears semi-double, bell-shaped carmine-red blooms edged in irregular white picotee borders around yellow stamens from late fall through winter. The growth habit is upright with semi-weeping outer stems and leathery leaves that display subtle red tints on young shoot growth.

Uses & Benefits:

Provides carmine-red semi-double blooms with white picotee edges during late fall and winter.

Functions as a dense, year-round evergreen privacy screen or structured hedge.

Offers a vital source of nectar and pollen for late-season bees and winter insects.

SpeciesCamellia sasanquaSasanqua Camellia

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Shrub

Height

84"

Width

60"

Light

Partial Sun, Shade

Zones

7, 8, 9

Water

Moderate

Humidity

Moderate to High

Lifespan

Long-lived

Native To

Cultivated origin

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Bloom period

Late fall – Winter

In flower about 4 months of the year

Planting

How to Grow

Choose a site receiving morning light and afternoon shade or light dappled shade under tall trees.
Amend heavy or alkaline soil with composted pine bark to drop the pH between 5.5 and 6.5 and boost organic structure.
Dig a shallow hole twice as wide as the root ball, ensuring the plant sits slightly elevated above grade.
Mulch with a 2-inch layer of pine bark, keeping the mulch 2 inches clear of the primary stem.

Pro Tip

Plant with the root flare level with or slightly above the surrounding soil line; burying the crown restricts oxygen intake to the surface roots and encourages collar rot.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Keep soil consistently moist but never waterlogged during the first two growing seasons.
Maintain a persistent mulch layer to protect shallow roots from temperature fluctuations.
Prune immediately after winter flowering ends before next season's buds begin forming.

Don't

Do not bury the crown beneath excess soil or pile mulch directly against the base.
Avoid high-nitrogen synthetic fertilizers, which burn shallow feeding roots.
Do not plant in poorly drained clay where standing water persists after rainfall.

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Fertilize
Mulch
Pest Check
Prune

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Evergreen accent shrubScreening and hedgesUnderstory woodland garden foundationLarge container specimen

Companion Plants

Acer palmatum Rhododendron Heuchera Pieris japonica

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Christmas Carol Camellia questions

What zones can Christmas Carol Camellia grow in?

Christmas Carol 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 Christmas Carol Camellia deer resistant?

Not reliably. Deer may browse Christmas Carol Camellia, especially tender spring growth — plan on repellents or fencing where pressure is high.

When does Christmas Carol Camellia bloom?

Christmas Carol Camellia typically blooms in late fall through winter. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Christmas Carol Camellia need full sun?

Christmas Carol Camellia does best in part shade.

Is Christmas Carol Camellia drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Christmas Carol Camellia handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.