This is an article on how to grow camellias in containers. If you live in the vicinity of the South, or have visited there during late fall into early spring, you know what that word means. Camellia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae. They are native to eastern and southern Asia, from the Himalayas east to Japan and Indonesia. There are said to be 100 – 300 described species, with some controversy over the exact number. There are also around 3,000 hybrids.

The most popular camellia throughout the world is often not even recognized as a member of this family. That plant is Camellia sinensis, better known as the tea plant. But, THAT’s a story for another day.

No, today we will discuss the three major players in the camellia world, Camellia sasanqua, Camellia japonica, and Camellia reticulata. When you purchase camellia plants, these are the three you will most likely encounter.

What is the best soil for Camellias?    

Camellias enjoy life in Zones 7-9, for the most part. Some may survive in Zone 6, but you are starting to push it there. Anything north of Zone 6 should be grown in containers. And of course, you can grow them in containers even in their comfort zones.

When growing Camellias, be sure to provide well-drained, organically rich, slightly acidic soil (5.5 – 6.8 pH). The exact mix of ingredients does not matter if three basic elements are considered —

1. Good drainage. Standing water should not collect for any length of time. Straight Peat Moss is not a good option for camellias.
2. Retains some moisture. Camellias require some moisture, so straight sand is not a good option.
3. Supports the plant. Straight Perlite is not suitable.

However, a combination of these three, together with some pine bark fines, compost, or vermiculite, in any combination will work. Just remember to observe the three basic elements.

How to water Camellias in containers

Once you have the soil conditions covered, the watering part is easy. Camellias like moist soil, but not consistently wet feet. If you visualize a wrung-out dish sponge, damp but not wet, maintaining moisture at that level keeps them happy. The materials used in the soil mixture also plays a part in the amount of water used. Use your finger, if the soil is dry to your second knuckle, water the plant. Allowing the plant to stress for moisture results in smaller and less abundant blooms.

How often should Camellias in containers be fed?

Camellias should be fed three times a year. The first time for feeding is when the new foliage emerges in spring. The second dose is in early summer, and then finally in early fall. Don’t wait too long with the last feeding, the plants need to harden off before it gets cold and go dormant. Use an acidic fertilizer, one that is labeled for hydrangeas, blueberries, or hollies is best. Be sure it has minor elements. Always follow the directions on the label.

How to choose the size of the container for Camellias

All camellias can be grown successfully in containers, if the pot is a large enough pot. A healthy Camellia will outgrow it’s container every 2 – 3 years. When it does, move up one or two pot sizes.

Other things to consider in sizing the pot, will it need to be moved? Or, is it root-bound? If it is, transplanting is a good time to do some root pruning. There are many great articles on that process online. You may also wish to learn how to prune the part of the plant that’s above ground.

Potted Camellias dry out faster than plants in the ground, so monitor them closely. Terra Cotta pots dry out faster than plastic or glazed pots. Smaller pots dry out faster than larger pots.

How to plant Camellias in containers

A common mistakes is to plant the Camellia too deeply. The top of the soil ball should be just slightly higher than the rest of the soil in the pot. One inch is a good rule of thumb. That allows the root ball to settle into the pot and not suffocate the rootzone.

What to consider when purchasing Camellias for containers

When purchasing a new Camellia, remember they are slow growing, so they tend to be a little pricier than a typical houseplant. I prefer to find a nursery or garden center and shop in person, and WHEN the Camellias are flowering. That way you know without a doubt exactly what color/size/form you are getting. Plants get mislabeled or destroyed and sometimes what you thought was white ends up being red and pink variegated! Camellias can also be purchased online. A simple Google search should work.

When to buy Camellias for containers

As noted earlier, the three most popular Camellias are C. sasanqua, C. japonica, and C. reticulata. Each one has a slightly different flowering time.

Camellia sasanqua are fall bloomers. Flowering begins as early as September and can lasts until late December or early January, depending on weather. This variety has smaller blooms, but the blossoms are in much abundance.

Pollinator on Camellia Sasanqua – photo by scgardener

Camellia japonica is considered a winter bloomer. That is a little misleading because flowering can start in October and go on through late April or early May, again weather dependent. These have larger blossoms, and while they are not as abundant as the sasanquas, they can fill a plant with color.

Camellia reticulatas blooms start a little later, usually January. These are the most-cold sensitive of the three but tend to have much larger blooms than the other two. ‘Retics’ as they are sometimes called, are more suitable to warmer regions. They must be protected when temperatures drop below freezing.  While the plants will survive into the mid 20’s, the blooms will not.

Where to place Camellias in containers

When deciding where to place your containers, all three species like dappled sun. Underneath a pine tree or oak tree is perfect. The sasanquas can handle a little more sun than the other two. So, if you have a spot that is smaller than the amount of plants you have, place the sasanqua out on the outer edge in the brighter light and the other two inside the space. For

Enemies of Camellias in containers

For the most part, camellias have few real enemies. Tea scale, spider mites and aphids are the top three pests. Neem oil will work on all three of them. Aphids can be controlled with Insecticidal soap with or without the Neem oil addition.

Tea Scale on Camellia Leaf – photo by Darren Sheriff

Other resources for information about Camellias

Camellias are popular so there are many good places to find more information on their care online. A highly respected resource would be The American Camellia Society. (https://www.americancamellias.com/)

There you can find information about the different newly registered camellias, information on grafting and other propagation methods, plus you can locate a show that may be coming to your area. Camellias have a whole world of people that exhibit and compete against each other for the prettiest blooms. Another resource I recommend is The International Camellia Society (https://internationalcamellia.org/).

In Conclusion

I highly encourage you to give one of the different species of Camellias a trial. The colors will amaze you from the deepest reds to hot pinks, white, striped, variegated, and pretty much all things in between. Their sizes are also remarkable, some being no wider than 1 inch up to 5+ inches in diameter.

Photo #3-2016 Murrells Inlet- A typical site at a camellia show during blooming season. Typically October through April at many different places throughout the United States.

Photo #4-2016 Columbia Camellia Show- A typical site at a camellia show during blooming season. Typically October through April at many different places throughout the United States.