Camellias are a popular flowering shrub, cherished for their gorgeous blooms and lush green foliage. While often grown in the ground, did you know that camellias also make stunning container plants? With the right care and conditions, camellias can thrive when grown in pots.
Why Grow Camellias in Pots?
There are several great reasons to grow camellias in containers
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Flexibility Potted plants can be easily moved to follow the sun or modify exposure Camellias appreciate morning sun but afternoon shade, so repositioning pots is helpful
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Protection: Growing camellias in containers allows you to shelter plants during cold snaps. Pots are much easier to cover or move indoors than in-ground plantings.
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Portability: Potted camellias can be shifted in and out of focal areas with the seasons. Place them prominently when blooming then move to a more discreet spot when not in flower.
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Design: Camellias offer unique blooms and foliage to container gardens. They combine nicely with annuals and perennials in mixed plantings.
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Fragrance: Many camellia varieties have a wonderful fragrance. Keep pots near doors or walkways to enjoy the scent.
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Blooms: Container-grown camellias can be moved indoors to enjoy the blooms up close.
Choosing the Right Camellia Varieties
With hundreds of camellia varieties, there’s one perfect for your space. Consider these factors when selecting:
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Mature size: Check expected height and width at maturity to pick the right fit. Compact varieties like ‘October Magic® Dawn’ work well in smaller pots.
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Bloom season: Camellias bloom in fall, winter, or spring. Select early, mid, and late varieties to extend the floral display.
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Flower form: Choose from single, semi-double, anemone, peony, or rose form blooms. Flower size ranges from petite to giant 8-inch blooms.
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Flower color: Camellias offer blooms in white, pink, red, lavender, and bi-colors. The options are nearly endless!
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Fragrance: Scented blooms are icing on the cake. Sniff out fragrant varieties like ‘Leslie Ann’ and ‘Dr. Tinsley’.
Once you’ve selected the perfect camellia for your needs, it’s time to pick the ideal pot!
Choosing the Right Pot for Camellias
To thrive, camellias need room for root growth but also drainage to prevent soggy soil. Here are the ideal pot features:
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Material: Select ceramic, terra cotta, wood, concrete, or other non-porous material. Avoid metal pots which conduct heat.
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Size: Pick a pot at least 2 inches wider than the root ball with room for growth. Re-pot every 2-3 years as the plant grows.
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Drainage: Be sure pots have drainage holes to prevent waterlogging. Add pebbles or pieces of broken pottery to improve drainage.
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Saucer: Use a drainage saucer to catch excess water and elevate pots above drained water.
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Weight: For larger plants, choose heavy pots that can’t be blown over by wind or tipped by pets.
How to Plant Camellias in Pots
Once you have the perfect pot picked out, it’s time to plant! Follow these tips for planting success:
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Soil: Use a acidic, well-draining soil mix formulated for camellias and rhododendrons. Or mix equal parts potting soil, peat, and sand.
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Fertilizer: Mix controlled-release fertilizer into the potting mix to feed plants for 3 months after planting.
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Planting: Set the root ball on firmly packed soil. Ensure the top of the root ball is level with the pot rim.
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Watering: Water thoroughly after planting until water drains from the pot bottom.
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Mulch: Top dress pots with 2 inches of pine bark or wood chip mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Caring for Potted Camellias
A little TLC will keep your container camellias looking lush:
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Sun: Place pots in bright shade protected from hot afternoon sun. Provide morning sun where possible.
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Water: Check soil moisture frequently and water thoroughly when the top few inches become dry.
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Fertilizer: Feed every 6-8 weeks during the growing season with camellia fertilizer. Avoid high-nitrogen mixes.
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Pruning: Prune right after flowering to shape and remove dead wood. Pinching in summer controls size.
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Repotting: Re-pot container plants every 2-3 years in fresh potting mix. Prune the roots at re-potting.
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Winterizing: Shelter pots from harsh wind and cold. Move to an unheated garage or covered area as needed.
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Pest control: Inspect regularly and use neem oil or insecticidal soap sprays to control common pests like spider mites, aphids, or scale.
Tips for Stunning Container Camellias
Follow these design tips and tricks for eye-catching camellia pots:
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Mix blooming camellias with cool-weather annuals like pansies, violas, and ornamental kale.
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Combine compact camellia varieties together in larger containers for big impact.
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Underplant larger pots with spring bulbs that emerge after camellias finish blooming.
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Use trellises, obelisks, or small trellised pyramids to train climbing roses and camellias to grow together.
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Place containers along walkways or near entries so the fragrance can be enjoyed.
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Use formal symmetrical pots for an elegant look or rustic, weathered pots for a more relaxed feel.
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Bring pots indoors to use blooming branches in floral arrangements.
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Site pots near pools, patios, or outdoor living areas to take advantage of off-season blooms.
With their abundance of gorgeous blooms and lush foliage, camellias are ideal plants for container gardens. By selecting the right varieties, pots, and care methods you can successfully grow these beauties on your patio or porch. A potted camellia is sure to become one of your favorite container plants!
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Want a beautiful, easy-to-grow shrub for your patio or container garden? Camellias are small to medium-sized evergreen shrubs that flower in the fall and winter. These cold-weather bloomers are one of a kind because they can add bright spots of color to a landscape that is usually dull and gray in the winter. Here are some facts to consider about Camellia sinesis and Camellia japonica:
- Camellias do well in zones 7 through 10, and some hardy types can even handle zone 6.
- When fully grown, camellias can be anywhere from 2 to 12 feet tall and 2 to 10 feet wide, depending on the type you choose.
- Camellias prefer slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soil.
- Camellias do best where they can get some morning sun and some afternoon shade.
- Camellias are slow growing, but very hardy and long-lived.
- Camellias bloom three times a year: in late fall, early winter, and early spring.
- There are many colors of flowers on them, from white and pink to lavender, red, and yellow.
Why Grow Camellias in Pots
Typically plants are grown in pots to bring beauty to hardscape areas. Additionally, plants are grown in pots to protect them from frost. Pots are easy to move, so you can take them out of direct sunlight or from freezing temperatures to a patio cover.
Camellias can be grown in pots of any size and look great in container gardens that are already there. Alternatively, these versatile shrubs are perfect as a vibrant entryway piece or on decks. They also make stunning anchors to small gardens and outside structures such as gazebos and garages.
When you plant camellias in the ground or in pots, you should measure the area and pick the type that will do best there. If you don’t have a lot of room or want to grow them in pots, pick a smaller camellia type like the October Magic or the Hot Flash. For bigger gardens or landscapes, you might want to direct-plant bigger varieties like the Kramers Supreme to make a focal point or anchor.
How to Plant Camellias in Pots : Garden Savvy
How to grow a camellia in a pot?
Read on to learn how to grow a camellia in a pot. Growing camellias in containers is easy. Camellias prefer well-drained, acidic soil, preferably with a pH between 5.0 and 6.5. A commercial mix for rhododendrons or azaleas is perfect.
Do camellias grow in containers?
Container-grown camellias dry out faster than those planted in the ground. Be sure to water containers deeply when the upper 2- to 3-inches of soil feel dry to the touch. Allow containers to drain thoroughly. Avoid pruning camellias during the growing season when buds are forming.
How do you care for camellias in pots?
Care for camellias in pots requires checking the potting mix regularly – as often as twice daily during hot, dry weather, as container-grown camellias dry out much faster than shrubs planted in the ground. Water the plant deeply whenever the top 2 to 4 inches (5-10 cm.) of potting mix feels dry to the touch, then allow the pot to drain.
Can camellias grow in terracotta pots?
Camellias do best in durable plastic or glazed ceramic pots, as these materials tend to hold in moisture. Avoid planting camellias in terracotta pots. They dry out too quickly. If you are going to plant in a wooden container, seal it prior to planting to preserve moisture. Make sure whatever container you choose has drainage holes.