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Camellia

Matty2Matty2 Posts: 4,817

I have found a camellia that will go in my family border. It will go in a north facing border which puts it in shade nearly all day. Would it grow OK or would it need more light?

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  • mine grow in a fairly shady garden ,they like a lot of water in the flowering period but are prone to frost and the flowers sometimes are lost.

  • jo4eyesjo4eyes Posts: 2,058

    It should be fine there BJay, providing you give it a good start when you plant it out & allow space for it to mature. They can be quite big shrubs ultimately so you dont want to be moving it. I assume that your soil is on the acidic side?

    The main problem with them I understand is - if they are planted in an East facing border thus catching the sun first thing after a frosty night which then browns the flowers. 

    Neighbour has had one in a very large tub for some years. It is actually partly East facing, more South though & next to the house/conservatory wall. J.

  • plant it where the sun does not hit it before 11am in the morning otherwise you will run the risk of losing your flowers from frost bite.

  • Matty2Matty2 Posts: 4,817

    Very little sun - next door neighbours put up a fence - not very high but enough to block the sun. It is light but shady

  • We have a camellia in a border between us and our neighbour. Our side is in shade most of the day, the other side gets sun in the morning. We usually get a lovely show of flowers, but they do need a lot of water when the flower buds are forming and I feed ours once a year with an ericaceous plant food. Ours is now about 12ft tall and must be 20 yrs old. It was in a large pot but only really started to thrive when planted out in the garden, use plenty of ericaceous compost unless you have the correct soil conditions for them.

  • Matty2Matty2 Posts: 4,817

    Yes, I know about soil conditions, and watering but was concerned about light levels, 

  • Our is in the middle if a mixed border, with conifers each side and doesn't get any direct sunlight on our side, and none after lunch time on the side bordering the neighbours. Will try to get a photo tomorrow. It faces due north on our side. It is quite shady but still thrives. Hope this helps.

    Chris

  • Matty2Matty2 Posts: 4,817

    That does help a lot thanks.image

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