Camellias are gorgeous broadleaf evergreen shrubs that produce very conspicuous and elegant late-season flowers! Camellias are loved for their long bloom period and beautiful range of colors. Many have Rose-like flowers, and others have incredibly concentric rows of double petals - neatly arranged with precision.

Pollinators adore these blooms, many of which are fragrant, and you will too! Float a few in bubble bowls, or snip stems for bouquets! The late-season blooms arrive just when you need them the most - in late fall through winter, and some lasting until early spring!

Predominantly found in the warm climates of USDA growing zones 7 through 10, where Camellias thrive and why they are seen everywhere in the Southern United States. The Camellia is the state flower of Alabama and that is a leading indicator of the climate that they prefer. The glossy green foliage persists throughout the entire year and creates rounded forms that can be shrubs or 'limbed up' into multi-trunked tree forms!

The Camellia plant family consists of over 200 species and around 3,000 hybrids. They originally came to the continental United States from Asia but were first introduced to England before being brought to the US.

Using Camellias In Your Garden

Nature Hills is very selective when choosing which of the varieties of Camellias to market. They are selected for flowering power, bloom colors, and size, along with disease tolerance.

Try Camellias as a beautiful espalier trained flat against a wall or fence. This ancient pruning technique is especially valuable in a smaller landscape where space is at a premium!

For apartment or condo living, Camellia can be pruned small as the perfect container plant. Plant one or more in matching planters for years of enjoyment on the patio. What a nice, easy way to screen your seating area! For a modern look, use a duplicate series of the same container style. Or, curate a special personalized collection of pots in different colors and flower forms.

Can you imagine how pretty these blooming shrubs would look as living walls of a Garden Room or outdoor dining room? These evergreen shrubs will look great all year long while providing screening and shade!

Foundation plantings and privacy hedges become dramatic features, and rows become backdrops that highlight Roses, other flowering shrubs, and perennial gardens! Add to mixed shrub borders for winter color, or as a stand-alone specimen planting!

Caring for Camellia Flowering Shrubs

Caring for Camellias is not difficult! They prefer acidic soils and soils that are gorged with organic matter with regular moisture. Camellias are adapted to many soil types but prefer slightly acidic soil with a pH of 5 to 6.5. Fertilize twice a year with Dr. Earth Acid Lovers Premium and Organic Fertilizer in the late winter and early summer.

Choose a location that drains well. If poor drainage is suspected, elevate your planting by mounding up. Bring in additional soil to a height of 18 inches and plant directly in that mound. Amend the soil with a few handfuls of acidic pine needles. For best results, provide afternoon shade and mulch younger plants 3-4 inches deep with arborist bark chips to provide root shading and hold in moisture more consistently.

Any required pruning should be done after new growth begins in the spring or after flowering. Camellias are also deer-resistant and have few pests or disease issues!

Order your quality Camellia flowering shrubs from Nature Hills and soon you'll enjoy late-season blooms and year-round beauty!