How to Grow Autumn Camellia
Camellia sasanqua
Camellia sasanqua flowers in autumn and early winter (October-December), filling a gap when little else blooms. More sun-tolerant and compact than C. japonica, making it excellent for hedging and smaller gardens. Smaller flowers but profuse and fragrant (japonica is not). Slightly less hardy than japonica (-10C vs -15C). Needs the same acid, humus-rich, well-drained soil. Use rainwater in hard-water areas. Prune after flowering in late winter if shaping is needed. A superb wall shrub for west or south-facing positions.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Requirements
Light
Sun to partial shade; south or west wall ideal
More sun-tolerant than C. japonica. A south or west-facing wall is ideal. Can take full sun if soil stays moist. Benefits from the extra warmth for autumn flowering.
Watering
Even summer moisture; use rainwater in hard-water areas
Maintain even moisture through summer when next year's flower buds are forming. Use rainwater in hard-water areas. Avoid waterlogging.
Fertilizing
Ericaceous feed after flowering; acidic mulch
Feed after flowering with an ericaceous fertiliser. Mulch with composted bark or pine needles to maintain acidity. Avoid lime-based products.
Pruning
Prune after flowering; clips well for hedges
Prune after flowering in late winter to early spring. Sasanqua responds well to clipping for hedges. Can be cut harder than japonica for renovation.
Overwintering
Hardy to -10C; sheltered wall in cold areas
Hardy to about -10C. Slightly less hardy than japonica. In cold areas, a sheltered south or west-facing wall provides the warmth it needs. Mulch the root zone in severe winters.
Growing Tips
Autumn flowering fills the gap
Sasanqua flowers from October to December when almost nothing else is in bloom. Position where you will see and enjoy the flowers during the darker months.
More sun-tolerant than japonica
Sasanqua actually benefits from more sun than japonica. A south or west-facing wall is ideal. The extra warmth helps ripen the wood for better flowering.
Excellent for hedging
More compact and denser than japonica, sasanqua makes a superb evergreen flowering hedge. Plant at 1.5m spacing and clip lightly after flowering.
Fragrant flowers
Unlike japonica, sasanqua flowers are sweetly scented. Plant near paths, doorways, or seating areas where the fragrance can be appreciated in autumn.
