Camellia pot display

You will need

Compact camellia, e.g. 'Tom Thumb', 'Anticipation' or 'Black Lace'
Large, deep pot, 30-35cm diameter, with drainage holes
Crocks
Ericaceous, loam-based compost
Pebbles

Pots & container categories

Overview

Buying a camellia in flower lets you choose exactly the colour you want for your patio show-stopper. This single plant will give you delightful spring colour and its glossy, deep green foliage looks impressive all year round, even when its not in flower. Place it in a shaded, sheltered position in view of the house so you can always enjoy the display.

Plant it: March - April or October - November

At its best: April-May

Takes just: 30 minutes

How to do it:

1Make sure there are plenty of holes in the base of your pot and add crock shards to improve drainage.

2Fill your pot about two-thirds full with ericaceous compost, leaving enough room for your plant.

3Make a hollow in the compost big enough for your camellia's rootball and place it in the pot.

4Position the plant centrally in the pot with the top of its rootball about 5cm below the rim. Fill in around the roots with compost and push down with your fingers.

5Spread a layer of colourful pebbles over the compost as a finishing touch. Avoid using limestone or shells, which could leach calcium into the soil and turn the leaves yellow.

6Water thoroughly using rainwater to settle the compost around the roots. Avoid using tap water and don't let your camellia dry out.

Adam's tip

For instant impact, buy the largest camellia you can afford.

Keep the plant in a sheltered spot so that frost doesn't damage the flowers, and prune after flowering in the spring.

Discuss this pot & container

Talkback: Camellia pot display

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tabbytiger 24/11/2011 at 15:27

Please can you help me the leaves on my camellia are turning yellow what do I need to do. Thank you,

bensbo 24/11/2011 at 15:28

I am new to Gardeners world website, & to gardening in general, we had our interest aroused by the Chelsea Flower show. We are in the process of talking to our sons school to get a sensory garden planted as he is autistic & there are several others too that can benefit from the garden.

If you have any ideas to planting I would love to hear from you. I have thought of a few choices like Rosa hot chocolate & aqualegia canadensis ( i love the crown on top of the flower)

evansdawn 24/11/2011 at 15:28

I have 3 peony plants in 3 different locations in my garden they are 3 years old and have never flowered, I read that if they are planted too deeply that this can cause them not to flower but they are not planted too deeply in my case. Can you tell me why they are not flowering please?

wingrove 24/11/2011 at 15:28

yes i do i have the same trubule as you i have asked lots of peple around my village but to no avail i dide hope some one would help me my wife loves it so i can not take it out please someone help???? my other problom is that i have over 20 mexicon orange blosum now one is tuining yellow and i would like to take it out but i do not know when or how so if enney one can help me it would make me and my wife verry happy thanks alot

maite 24/11/2011 at 15:29

iv had my camillas in the ground for the last 4 years i moved them into pots last october one of them is in full flower now but the other one has very small buds and there is black spot on the leaves and some of the leaves have turned brown and are very dry could you advise me what the problem could be and how to treat it as iv never had a problem with them thanks