Warm Up Winter With Camellias

Hardy, gorgeous, early flowering and relatively trouble-free, camellias are the ideal choice for the colder months – and now is the perfect time to plant them, says Camilla Phelps

- Camilla Phelps

WHO wouldn’t want to grow a camellia? The sumptuous, colourful blooms appear when there is precious little else in flower, bringing a splash of joy to any garden in winter. These evergreen shrubs, with bright glossy green foliage, are bold and elegant – and what’s more, they love a shady spot.

Although camellias were at first considered tender plants, and were traditionally grown in greenhouses, they are hardy enough to be very happy outdoors in the UK climate. Flower buds may need temporary protection during periods of extreme cold and frost, but generally camellias are relatively troublefree, with few pest and disease problems – although camellia blight, a fungal disease, can cause flowers to drop.