How Long Do Camellias Bloom? Enjoy Months of Colorful Flowers

Camellias are beloved shrubs that provide months of beautiful blooms during the fall, winter, and early spring when little else is flowering in the garden. With proper selection and planting, you can enjoy camellia flowers in your garden for 5 months or more.

An Overview of Camellia Blooming Seasons

Camellias are generally divided into two main types

• Sasanqua camellias bloom in fall, starting as early as October and lasting until December.

• Japonica camellias bloom in late winter into spring, starting in January and lasting into April or even May.

Additionally, there is a third type of camellia called Sinensis that blooms in late fall.

By selecting both early and late blooming varieties, you can have non-stop flowers for months. Even individual varieties may bloom for up to 2 or 3 months at a time.

Sasanqua Camellias – The Earliest Blooms

Sasanqua camellias are valued for being the first camellias to bloom. They put on an incredible floral display starting as early as October in warm climates and lasting until December.

Some popular long blooming Sasanqua varieties include:

• ‘Apple Blossom’ – Blooms from November to February with creamy white flowers edged in soft pink.

• ‘Setsugekka’ – Starts blooming in September with semi-double white blooms signaling the start of fall.

• ‘Yuletide’ – Produces abundant cherry red blooms starting in December, perfect for the holidays.

• ‘Pink-A-Boo’ – A sport of ‘Yuletide’ with bright pink and yellow blooms from December to February.

Sinensis – The Rare Late Fall Blooms

Camellia sinensis, or the Tea Camellia, starts blooming in late fall after other camellias have finished. The petite white flowers and delicate nature of this camellia make it ideal for containers. It’s an unusual find, but worth searching for to extend the fall flowering season.

Japonica Camellias – Winter into Spring Flowers

The iconic larger, rose-like blooms of Japonica camellias start unfurling their buds in January and continue into spring. These are the big, bold camellias that your grandmother grew. Some long blooming winter varieties include:

• ‘Debutante’ – Huge peony-like flowers from January through March.

• ‘Lady Vansittart’ – Incredible color range on this variety from deep red to solid pink, blooming for 8 weeks from February to April.

• ‘Pearl Maxwell’ – Tidy formal blooms in soft shell pink from early spring into April.

• ‘Scentsation’ – Fragrant soft pink flowers from January to March.

Extending the Camellia Bloom Season

With smart variety selection, proper planting conditions, and attentive care, you can achieve up to 5 months of continuous camellia blooms:

• Start with Sasanquas – Plant early blooming Sasanqua varieties to kick off the season in fall.

• Include Sinensis – Add C. sinensis to bridge the gap after the Sasanquas finish.

• Choose late Japonicas – Select midseason to late blooming Japonica varieties to carry through winter into spring.

• Plant in sun – Camellias need sun to promote prolific flowering. Provide at least 4 hours of direct sun.

• Give afternoon shade – Afternoon shade will prevent flowers from getting scorched in hot climates.

• Fertilize after blooming – Feed with acid fertilizer to encourage new bud development for the next bloom season.

• Water regularly – Consistent water will result in more abundant blooms. Go lighter in rainy winter months.

Caring for Camellias Through the Seasons

Proper care through the seasons is key to keeping camellias happy and floriferous:

Spring:

• Finish deadheading spent blooms.

• Fertilize after peak flowering.

• Prune lightly after blooming if needed.

Summer:

• Water 1-2 times per week if no rain.

• Mulch to keep roots cool.

Fall:

• Begin watching for Sasanqua buds!

• Rake away old mulch and fertilize one last time.

• Prune Sinensis after it finishes blooming.

Winter:

• Enjoy Japonica blooms.

• Water deeply if winter is dry.

• Clear away dead leaves and petals.

Achieving up to 5 Months of Flowers

By incorporating a diverse blend of early, mid, and late season bloomers and providing ideal growing conditions, you can be rewarded with camellia blooms for up to 5 months, sometimes even longer:

• October: Sasanquas start flowering

• November to December: Peak Sasanqua bloom period

• December: Sinensis extends the fall season

• January to February: Japonicas begin blooming

• March to April: Japonicas hit peak bloom

Don’t be shy about planting lots of different camellia varieties in your garden beds and containers. The more diversity, the longer your blooming season will be. Just be sure to select a combination of early, mid, and late blooming types.

With just a little planning, you can enjoy vibrant camellia color in your garden from when leaves start falling until spring greenery returns, lighting up the gloomy winter months with cheerful blooms.