Camellia Camellia japonica
Camellia (Camellia japonica) is an evergreen perennial shrub in the Theaceae family. It grows 1.5–4 m (4.9–13 ft) tall and 1.5–3 m (4.9–10 ft) wide, wants part sun to part shade and moderate water, and is hardy to about -12 °C (10 °F). Space plants about 2 m (6.6 ft) apart.
Plan Camellia in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Camellia at a glance
| Type | Perennial shrub, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Theaceae |
| Mature height | 1.5–4 m (4.9–13 ft) |
| Mature spread | 1.5–3 m (4.9–10 ft) |
| Spacing | 2 m (6.6 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 3 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Cold hardiness | About -12 °C (10 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 8) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 32 °C (90 °F) |
| Flowering | from about February for 9–17 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Common in gardens of | 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇨🇳 China, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇰🇷 South Korea |
Is Camellia toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Camellia japonica is listed as non-toxic to people, cats and dogs.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Camellia
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and moderate water.
See Camellia in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- The Huntington (12 plants)
- UC Botanical Garden, Berkeley (4 plants)
- Fairy Lake Botanical Garden (10 plants)
- Missouri Botanical Garden (8 plants)
- Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro (3 plants)
- Kew: glasshouses and rock garden (3 plants)
Questions about Camellia
- How far apart should I plant Camellia?
- About 2 m (6.6 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 1.5–3 m (4.9–10 ft).
- Does Camellia need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 3 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Camellia need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Camellia?
- It tolerates about -12 °C (10 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 8.
- When does Camellia flower?
- From about February for 9–17 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Camellia poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Camellia japonica is listed as non-toxic to people, cats and dogs.
- What grows well with Camellia?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Camellia. Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part shade) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-cultivar values; varieties differ.
- Needs acidic, well-drained soil and shelter from hot sun.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Sasanqua camellia Camellia sasanqua
- Tea plant Camellia sinensis
- Japanese stewartia Stewartia pseudocamellia
- Yunnan camellia Camellia reticulata
- Bigleaf hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla
- Rhododendron Rhododendron
- Boxwood Buxus sempervirens
- Oleander Nerium oleander