Bottle Brush

Camellias do best in slightly acidic soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5 and high humus content as is found on the forest floor.They will especially appreciate the incorporation of organic matter (composted leaves, pine bark, well-rotted sawdust) into the planting area. The best time to plant camellias are from late October through the middle of April, so the roots have time to develop before the heat and drought of summer. However, container grown plants may be set out at any time as long as the ground can be worked and plenty of water is provided. New plants will require extra watering during their first summer, regardless of when they were planted. They should be soaked once a week during hot weather. Choose a planting site with well-drained soil and as little competition from shallow rooted trees like beech or poplar that will compete for nutrients and water. Camellia sasanqua is more tolerant of sun than japonica, but any camellia that is receiving too much sun will have leaves with a yellow cast, or they will suffer from sun scald.