How Long Do Camellias Bloom For? Tips to Maximize Flowering
Camellias are prized for their beautiful blooms that burst forth during the dreary winter months. Their lush evergreen foliage also provides year-round structure and interest. But exactly how long do camellias bloom for each year?
The answer depends on several factors:
- Camellia species and variety
- Plant maturity
- Growing conditions
- Pruning practices
By choosing the right varieties and providing optimal care, you can prolong the camellia flowering season in your garden.
Camellia Bloom Seasons
Camellias generally fall into two main categories:
Sasanqua Camellias – Bloom in fall, starting as early as September through November.
Popular long-blooming sasanqua varieties include:
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‘Apple Blossom’ – Blooms September to November.
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‘Setsugekka’ – Blooms September through early winter.
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‘Yuletide’ – Produces cherry red blooms October to January.
Japonica Camellias – Bloom in winter, starting in late fall or early winter through spring.
Some top japonica performers:
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‘Debutante’ – Blooms November to March.
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‘Lady Vansittart’ – Blooms January to April.
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‘Donation’ – Blooms January to March.
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‘Carter’s Sunburnt’ – Flowers February to April.
Hybrid camellias like ‘Spring Festival’ and ‘Anticipation’ also offer extended bloom seasons from fall through spring.
Maximizing Camellia Bloom Duration
With careful variety selection and proper care, it’s possible to achieve up to 7-8 months of continuous camellia blooms. Here are some tips:
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Choose “long blooming” varieties that flower for 2-3 months rather than just a few weeks.
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Give camellias ideal growing conditions like rich, acidic, well-draining soil and afternoon shade.
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Lightly fertilize in early spring after blooming finishes to support future flowering.
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Allow spent blooms to drop naturally rather than deadheading prematurely.
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Protect flower buds from extreme cold with horticultural fleece in very cold climates.
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Water young plants regularly to promote strong root growth and prolific blooms.
Expected Camellia Bloom Times by Region
Camellia bloom times vary based on climate:
United States:
- Southeast: October to May
- Pacific Northwest: November to April
- Southwest: December to March
- Northeast: February to April
Europe: October to May
Southern Hemisphere: April to September
In mild climates, camellias can bloom for up to 8 months. In colder areas, expect a 2-4 month flowering season.
Top Prolific Blooming Camellia Varieties
Here are some camellia varieties renowned for their lengthy bloom seasons:
Japonica Camellias
- ‘Roger Hall’ – Blooms November to April
- ‘Mathotiana Supreme’ – Blooms January to April
- ‘Bob Hope’ – Blooms February to April
- ‘Tomorrow Park Hill’ – Blooms January to April
- ‘Dr. Tinsley’ – Blooms November to March
Hybrid Camellias
- ‘Spring Festival’ – Blooms January to May
- ‘Lady Clare’ – Blooms October to March
- ‘Debbie’ – Blooms October to March
Sasanqua Camellias
- ‘Showa-No-Sakae’ – Blooms September to December
- ‘Jean Pursel’ – Blooms October to January
- ‘Yuma’ – Blooms September to November
How to Prolong Camellia Bloom Time
Beyond choosing the right varieties, proper camellia care and maintenance can help extend the flowering period. Here are some tips:
Water Well
Give camellias about 1-2 inches of water per week. Consistent watering encourages prolific blooming.
Use Acidic Fertilizer
Feed camellias with an acidic fertilizer when new growth appears after blooming. This provides nutrients for next year’s flower buds.
Avoid Aggressive Pruning
Minimal pruning is needed. Only remove spent blooms by hand rather than shearing off branches which can remove developing flower buds.
Shelter Flower Buds
In cold climates, wrap plants to protect flower buds from extreme cold and prevent them from dropping prematurely.
Control Pests
Monitor for common camellia pests like tea scale, cottony cushion scale, and Fuller rose beetle which can weaken plants and reduce flowering.
Give Sunlight
Camellias need at least 2-3 hours of sun for abundant blooms. Too much shade limits flower production.
Plant in Fall
Fall planting allows roots to establish over winter so plants are primed for spring growth and flowering.
Camellia Bloom Times Vary
While individual camellia flowers only last 7-10 days, meticulous variety selection, optimal care, and pruning restraint can prolong the total blooming season substantially. In warm climates, camellias may churn out beautiful blooms for up to 8 months of the year, transforming gardens with their vibrant colors. Even in colder areas, they persistently flower for 2-4 months through the dreary winter period when color is scarce. For maximum enjoyment, select a mixture of early, mid, and late season bloomers to brighten up your garden from fall through spring.
Camellia japonica ‘Tom Knudsen’
Bodacious red buds open to formal double flowers of darkest red. Blooms in March-April. Large glossy leaves cloak a sturdy upright form.
Grows 8-10 x 6-8, sun-part shade – protect from hottest afternoon sun. Zone 8.
Sweet-smelling white single form flowers with yellow stamens and ruffled edges blooms November to January. Graceful upright habit.
Grows 8-10’ tall, 6-8’ wide. Zone 7
Darkest pink semi-double flowers with light sweet scent occur in December-February. Shishigashiras shape is different from other Camellias – its fountainous, low and wide.
Grows 4-5 tall x 6-8 wide, sun-part shade – protect from hot afternoon sun. Zone 7.
Our most popular Camellia, and justly so. Chinese lacquer red single flowers with yellow stamens and a sweet scent bloom before, during and after Christmas. Sturdy upright habit.
Grows 8-10 x 6-8, Z7
Tea Camellia leaves are used to make green and black teas. Nodding white or pink flowers appear in October and have a light sweet scent. Leaves are soft and flexible.
Grows 6-8 x 6-8, protect from hot summer sun and cold winter wind, Zone 7.
Best selection is September-April
Family: Theaceae
Genus: Camellia
Common: Camellia
Origin: Native to Japan & China
Characteristics: Camellias have been in cultivation for eons and there are hundreds if not thousands of varieties.
Winter Camellias – Camellia sasanqua
Winter Camellias bloom in Portland from late October into February. Flowers are sweetly scented, smaller than Japanese Camellias and hold up to winter rain better than Japanese Camellias. Flower forms are single, semi-double or anemone. Colors range from white to red and every version of pink in between. Leaves are dark matte green and evergreen. Many C. sasanquas have an upright open structure and some grow in a lower fountain shape.
Spring Camellias – Camellia japonica
Spring Camellias can begin to bloom as early as December depending on weather, but high season is March and April. Flowers are medium to large and are typically unscented. Colors range from white to pink to red, and even come in pale yellow! Flowers tend to get heavy in spring rains and are considered messy by some when they drop on the ground. Evergreen leaves are big and glossy, and a indeed mature C. japonica casts dense shade.
Tea Camellias – Camellia sinensis
You can grow tea in Portland! Leaves from Tea Camellia are what is used to make green and black teas. Flowers are usually white or occasionally pale pink and bloom in October-November. Papery leaves are medium green.
Culture: Camellias thrive in acidic soil, which is typical on the west side of the Cascades. Morning sun or dappled shade is ideal for Camellias. It allows for the plant to receive enough sun to produce flowers and protects leaves from being burned by hot afternoon sun. Use fertilizer specified for Camellias, Azaleas or Rhododendrons, as they are all acid-loving plants that can become chlorotic (turn yellow & look sick) without proper nutrients.
Diseases: Camellias are prone to a number of pests and diseases, but in Portland, sucking insects like scale and mealy bug can become problematic, and are often followed by sooty mildew, a black dusty-looking substance which can only be present when sucking insects are also around. A broad range of treatment options is available.
We carry around fifty varieties of Camellia but these are some Portland Nursery favorites:
A winter-flowering hybrid with anemone form flowers November to February accompanied by red new foliage that turns green with age. Winters Snowman is more cold tolerant than most Camellias.
Grows 10-12’ x 5-6, part shade, Z6
Pretty pink peony-form flowers from December to February. Pink Icicle is more cold tolerant than most Camellias.
Grows to 8-10’ x 6’. Zone 6
Exquisite flower structure and pretty ballet pink collaborate to form Magnoliaeflora. Technically this is a semi-double flower form, but the large waxy pointed petals add definition that keeps flowers from looking too frilly. Glossy evergreen leaves and upright shape.
Grows 8-10 x 6-8. Zone 8
Why is My Camellia Plant not Flowering?
FAQ
How do you keep camellias blooming?
Make sure your plants stay consistently watered. A steady supply of water could provide the necessary hydration your plants need to move from flower buds to full flowers. However, camellias can’t stand poor drainage and wet feet. Be sure your plants drain well.
Do camellias flower all summer?
Blooming prodigiously for weeks, some camellia varieties enjoy an extraordinarily long blooming season extending from November to April in the northern hemisphere or from April to September in the southern hemisphere.
How long do camellia blooms last?
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University of Delawarehttps://canr.udel.eduHARDY CAMELLIAS FOR MONTHS OF SPECTACULAR BLOOMDuring the Cool SeaSonS of the year, when most blooms are small and scarce in the garden, no hardy shrub can match the flower power of camellias, boasting large…
Do camellia bloom twice?
A summer-blooming camellia exists.
Its ruby-red, semi-double blooms open from July to November, and again from February through March. Camellias must be bred with a wild species from China, C.
Are camellias long blooming?
Opt for camellias touted as “long blooming” or “prolific blooming” to maximize floral displays. Like most plants, camellias will bloom best when their basic needs are met. Make sure to plant camellias in rich, acidic, well-draining soil, give them afternoon shade, and water during dry periods.
How long does a camellia flower last?
It is native to Japan and not as common as its spring-blooming counterpart, Camellia japonica. Even though each flower only lasts a few days, each plant blooms for at least six weeks thanks to its many buds. The flowers are often fragrant and hummingbirds and other winter pollinators love them.
When do camellias bloom in the UK?
In the UK, early-blooming species such as Camellia sasanqua can flower as early as November and into December. However, most varieties, including the popular Camellia japonica and Camellia reticulata, bloom from late winter into spring, typically between February and April,’ says Stephanie Harrod, founder of Harrod Horticultural.
Do camellias bloom in winter?
One of the few evergreen plants that bloom in winter, camellias are a sought after year-round plant. Camellias are evergreen plants that most often bloom in the wintertime. They are among only a small number of evergreen plants that flower, and an even smaller number that bloom in winter, making them a desirable landscape element year-round.
How big does a winter camellia grow?
The Winter Camellia does best in part-shade and blooms from late winter to early spring. It grows to be 6 feet tall and 4–5 feet wide. Camellia sasanqua ‘Shishi Gashira’: This evergreen camellia grows 4–5 feet tall and 6–8 feet wide and has an upright and slightly spreading habit.
Are camellias evergreen?
Since camellias are considered evergreen, this means their thick, glossy, green foliage is present year-round. In fact, this is one of the many reasons that gardeners plant them. They aren’t only loved for their gorgeous blooms, but the fact they stay green year round in most climates. So what about their beautiful blooms?