Camellia

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?

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.

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.

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.

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

That does help a lot thanks.

Thanks for your help. Will think a little more,but will maybe have a go. 

A shady spot is perfect, because they are woodland plants. You have to avoid east-facing areas, because their blooms are very vulnerable to frost damage when caught by early sunshine.

Hi Bjay.

As promised yesterday a couple of pictures of the camellia in our garden taken this afternoon.

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 Buds just waiting for some better weather.

Well I think I will give it a go. Have found one with my Grand daughters name, so will go in with a clematis  that has her Daddy's name, with a rose with her uncle's name and something with my daughters name.(loads of plants with that one) Still working on a plant with her mother's name

Those buds look nice and swollen, what colour is it?

It a deep pink, I don't know its name. We have had it for so long I've forgotten.

It's a lovely idea having a family border, might do a bit of resarch myself into plants for our family, some are easier than others to find.

That is certainly so. Can't find one for my name either - yet

Thanks

Thanks for all your help. Today i have ordered the Camelia from Rotherview Nurseries. Hope it's OK