How to Grow Christmas Camellia

Camellia x vernalis 'Yuletide', a sasanqua hybrid, is commonly called Christmas camellia due to its deep-red, single-scented flowers, glossy foliage and fall through winter blooming habit. This evergreen shrub looks attractive in mixed borders, as hedges and in containers and planters. Low growing varieties make easy-to-grow ground cover in shaded areas and steep hillsides. Christmas camellia thrives in USDA hardiness zones 7 through 9. Christmas camellia is native to China and Japan where the original camellias have grown wild for thousands of years.

Shovel
Soil testing kit

Instructions

- 1
  Find a site with warmth, light and acidic soil. If you're unsure of the type of soil present, ask your local extension office if they will test your soil. You can also purchase a soil testing kit at most major garden centers and test it yourself. Amend the soil with composted leaf litter or shredded bark if you need to bring up the acid level. If the soil is alkaline, you can also add iron sulfate or ammonium sulfate to drop the pH to an acceptable level of 4.5 to 5.5. Christmas camellia can reach 6 to 7 feet tall and about 4 to 5 feet wide in 10 years.
- 2
  Plant Christmas camellia in early spring or fall in well-drained soil. To test the site for drainage, dig a hole and fill it with water. If it hasn't drained within an hour, heavily amend the soil with compost. Adding some small gravel to the soil also improves drainage.
- 3
  Water Christmas camellia regularly in hot weather. This plant prefers some moisture at all times; therefore, do not let it dry out completely before watering it again.
- 4
  Prune in early spring before the buds form on the plant. Pruning is a matter of individual preference, but isn't necessary.

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