Overview

Introducing the exquisite double mauve camellia live plant, a true spectacle for the fall and winter garden. This captivating shrub offers a unique and vibrant display of pink-mauve semi-double flowers, bringing much-needed color when most other plants have faded. Each elegant, bowl-shaped bloom is beautifully contrasted by thick, leathery, dark green evergreen foliage, ensuring year-round visual appeal. Perfect for gardeners seeking to extend their blooming season, this camellia is a robust and rewarding choice. While known for its beauty, it also exhibits good resilience, thriving in appropriate conditions and rewarding growers with its stunning floral show. This particular variety is celebrated for its distinctive color and reliable performance, making it a standout feature in any landscape.

The camellia, often referred to as the ‘rose of winter’, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae. The double mauve camellia live plant is a testament to the genus’s enduring charm and hardiness. Its ability to produce such striking blooms during colder months makes it an invaluable asset for creating vibrant outdoor spaces, even when temperatures drop. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting, this camellia offers a relatively easy-to-care-for option that delivers significant aesthetic impact.

Key Benefits

The double mauve camellia live plant offers a multitude of benefits, making it an excellent choice for various garden settings. Its unique blooming period and attractive foliage ensure continuous interest.

• Extended Seasonal Interest: Enjoy a spectacular display of vibrant pink-mauve flowers during autumn and winter, providing color when most other plants are dormant. This makes it a fantastic choice for those seeking winter flowering shrubs.
• Stunning Floral Design: Each semi-double flower opens into an elegant bowl-like shape, creating a sophisticated and eye-catching focal point in your garden or patio.
• Evergreen Foliage: The thick, leathery, dark green leaves remain vibrant throughout the year, offering continuous texture and structure to your landscape.
• Cold Hardiness: This camellia is reliably hardy in USDA zone 7, with potential for success in zone 6b with proper protection, making it suitable for a broader range of climates.
• Low Maintenance Appeal: Once established, this double mauve camellia live plant requires relatively minimal care, making it an ideal choice for busy gardeners.
• Versatile Landscaping Use: Perfect for borders, foundation plantings, woodland gardens, or as a stand-alone specimen plant, adding elegance wherever it’s placed.
• Attracts Pollinators: While primarily a winter bloomer, its flowers can still attract beneficial insects during milder days, contributing to garden biodiversity.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper care is essential for your double mauve camellia live plant to thrive and produce its stunning autumn and winter blooms. Camellias generally prefer a slightly acidic, well-draining soil. Amend heavy clay soils with organic matter like compost or pine bark to improve drainage. For optimal growth, maintain consistent soil moisture, especially during dry spells and when the plant is establishing. However, avoid waterlogging, which can lead to root rot. A good rule of thumb is to water deeply when the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch.

When considering sunlight, the fall blooming camellia prefers partial shade to filtered sun. Morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal, as intense afternoon sun, especially in warmer climates, can scorch the leaves. In cooler zones, it may tolerate more sun, but protection from harsh winter winds is crucial. Fertilize your camellia in late winter or early spring, after it has finished blooming, using a slow-release fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants. Avoid fertilizing in late summer or fall, as this can encourage new growth that is vulnerable to winter damage. Pruning is best done after flowering to shape the plant and remove any dead or crossing branches. Understanding the camellia care guide is key to a healthy and bountiful plant.

Protecting your cold hardy camellia in colder zones (like 6b) is vital. Mulch heavily around the base of the plant in late fall to insulate the roots. Consider planting in a sheltered location, away from harsh winds, or providing a temporary burlap screen during the coldest months. Watch out for common pests like scale insects or aphids. These can usually be managed with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. Fungal diseases like petal blight can occur in wet conditions; ensure good air circulation around the plant to minimize risk. With consistent care, your camellia will reward you with years of beautiful blooms.

Size & Details

This offering is for a double mauve camellia live plant shipped in a 4-inch nursery pot. At the time of shipping, the plant will be well-rooted and ready for transplanting into your garden or a larger container. Camellias are relatively slow to moderate growers, eventually reaching a mature height of approximately 6-10 feet and a similar spread, depending on variety and growing conditions. The plant will typically arrive with healthy, dark green foliage and may or may not have buds or blooms, depending on the season and shipping time. It is a long-lived shrub that will provide many years of enjoyment.

This variety is known for its reliable fall-to-winter blooming period, offering a unique seasonal display. When planting, ensure you provide adequate space for its mature size to allow for proper development and air circulation. The plant’s robust nature and evergreen habit make it a valuable addition to any landscape design, providing structure and color even during the colder months. Expect the plant to establish well and begin producing its characteristic semi-double flowers in its first or second year after planting.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this double mauve camellia live plant get? A: This camellia typically grows to a mature height of 6-10 feet and can have a similar spread, forming a dense, attractive shrub over time. Its ultimate size can vary based on growing conditions and pruning.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The double mauve camellia live plant is primarily an outdoor shrub, best suited for garden beds, borders, or large outdoor containers. It requires outdoor conditions to thrive and bloom effectively.
• Q: How much sunlight does the fall blooming camellia need? A: It prefers partial shade to filtered sun. Morning sun with protection from intense afternoon sun is ideal. Too much direct sun, especially in hotter climates, can stress the plant.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, once established, this camellia is considered relatively low maintenance. Providing correct soil, water, and light conditions, as outlined in our camellia care guide, will ensure its health and vibrant blooms.
• Q: What condition will the camellia arrive in? A: Your double mauve camellia live plant will arrive well-rooted in a 4-inch nursery pot, carefully packaged to ensure it reaches you in healthy condition, ready for planting.
• Q: When is the best time to plant this cold hardy camellia? A: The best time to plant camellias is typically in spring or fall, allowing the plant sufficient time to establish its root system before extreme temperatures set in.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: This camellia is hardy to USDA zone 7 and has good potential to survive in zone 6b with adequate winter protection, such as mulching and sheltering from harsh winds.
• Q: What type of soil is best for the double mauve camellia? A: Camellias thrive in well-draining, slightly acidic soil rich in organic matter. Amending with compost or peat moss can help create optimal conditions.
• Q: How often should I water my camellia? A: Water deeply when the top 1-2 inches of soil feel dry. Maintain consistent moisture, especially during dry periods, but avoid overwatering or soggy conditions.
• Q: Does this camellia have any fragrance? A: While some camellias have a light fragrance, the primary appeal of this double mauve camellia live plant is its visual beauty and vibrant bloom color rather than a strong scent.