March Plant of the Month

I planted this camellia in my garden 30 years ago. I’d had it in a pot about five years before we moved here, so I have known this shrub for a long time.

It flowers reliably in March/April with semi double white flowers and is now about 5m high. Which, according to most text books, should be its maximum height. 

This year it has masses of flowers – probably because of the wet June we had last year. Camellias need moisture in early summer to help them set new buds that will flower the following spring. The other reason I sometimes loose buds are to squirrels, who have a taste for them as they start to swell in early spring. On a positive note, the flowers are also a magnet for bees.

Camellias like some shade, protection from wind and acidic soil. Our soil is on the acid side of neutral here, but I still get some yellow leaves. A top dressing of ericaceous compost helps.

Posts from the blog:

Adding annuals

A selection of recommended annuals.

The bees are a’ buzzing!

The garden is alive with bees as they gather pollen from a whole host of flowers.

Unfurling ferns

Take the opportunity to get close up to your ferns and admire the fascinating structures that exist within this family of ancient plants.

Plant sleuth

This mystery plant had leaves that were still lush in October but with no sign of any flowers to give me a lead.