If you give your camellias the right spot and a little TLC, they’ll reward you with some of the most stunning blooms in the garden. But I know what you’re thinking: *When is it finally going to happen?* And should you panic if your plant skips a season? Let’s dive into everything you need to know about the blooming cycle of the *Camellia japonica*.
Different Varieties, Different Bloom Times
The cool thing about camellias is that, depending on what you plant, you can have color in your garden almost year-round. While they used to be strictly early-summer bloomers, breeders have developed varieties that pop off as early as fall. Whether you want flowers in May or September, there’s a camellia for you. Here’s a quick cheat sheet for some popular varieties:
- Camelia sasanqua: September through December
- “Winter’s Joy”: November to December
- “Winter’s Snowman”: December to January
- “Adolphe Audusson”: January through early spring
- “Spring Festival”: Late January through February
- “Barbara Morgan”: February through early spring
- “April Dawn”: February to April
- “Erebo”: March and throughout the spring
Pro Tip: Keep an eye out right after the flowers fade—camellias actually start forming their new buds for next year shortly after they finish blooming!
Keys to a Successful Bloom
Let’s be real: *Camellia japonica* can be a bit of a diva. They aren’t fully hardy in colder climates and they definitely demand your attention. If they aren’t happy, they’ll show it—either by refusing to bud at all or by dropping brown, wilted flowers prematurely.
First off, location is everything. They love a “Goldilocks” spot with a perfect balance of sun and shade. You also need to stay on top of your watering and feeding schedule.
One secret to getting those big, beautiful blooms is a “chilling period.” Keeping the plant in a cool spot (around 50°F to 60°F) helps stimulate bud production and can even make the flowers last longer.
Pro Tip: *Camellia japonica* really prefers the great outdoors. If you try to keep it as a 24/7 indoor houseplant, it likely won’t bloom. However, container gardening is a great middle ground! Keep it on a windowsill, but move the pot to a sheltered spot on your patio or deck whenever the weather is nice.
