Christmas Carol Camellia

Christmas Carol CamelliaThe Christmas Carol Camellia is an exciting new selection from the Southern Living Plant Collection! This variety is a hybrid of Camellia japonica and Camellia sasanqua, and the result is something truly fantastic. Its blooms are semi double and soft red with white edges and golden stamen in the center. These blooms stand out in the landscape, and really compliment the colors of the holiday season! The hybrid nature of the Christmas Carol means that

The Christmas Carol™ Camellia is an exciting new selection from the Southern Living Plant Collection! This variety is a hybrid of Camellia japonica and Camellia sasanqua, and the result is something truly fantastic. Its blooms are semi-double and soft red with white edges and golden stamen in the center. These blooms stand out in the landscape, and really compliment the colors of the holiday season! The hybrid nature of the Christmas Carol means that it has an extended bloom period. Expect it to start blooming in fall and continue through the Christmas season.

The foliage falls somewhere between the flatter, darker Sasanqua leaves and the robust and glossy Japonica leaves. These leaves are dark green, notably pointed, and leathery with a slightly serrated edge.

The growth is not characteristically upright, like Camellia japonica. Instead, it tends to have less rigid growth, even semi-weeping in some instances.

The Christmas Carol Camellia reaches a mature size of 5-7' H x 3-5' W.

Use the Christmas Carol Camellia as an accent, hedge, mass planting, privacy planting, or even in a large container. Plant a long row of them on your property line for an impressive fall flower display that is just as functional as it is beautiful.

Check out a couple of other exciting new Southern Living Plant Collection varieties, the Early Wonder Camellia and the October Magic White Shi Shi Camellia. Additionally, take a look at another hybrid Camellia, the Egao Corkscrew Camellia.

Care Specifications for the Christmas Carol Camellia

Hardy from USDA Zones 7-9, and down to 0°F once completely situated in the landscape.

Plant in Full Sun to Part Shade for best results, 3-4 hours of direct sun or all-day filtered sun. Too little sun results in decreased bloom and foliage growth.

Water 2-3 times per week during the first growing season. Reduce watering to 1-2 times per week in the second growing season. Afterward, provide supplemental water in times of extreme drought and heat.

Fertilize once or twice yearly with an acidic plant fertilizer, or an organic acidic plant fertilizer.

The Christmas Carol Camellia has temperature-sensitive roots. So we recommend applying 3-4 inches of mulch around the plant yearly.