Overview

Introduce a burst of color to your winter landscape with the exquisite Yuletide Camellia live plant. This captivating shrub, scientifically known as Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’, is celebrated for its striking single, brilliant red blooms, each adorned with a vibrant cluster of bright yellow stamens. A true mid-season bloomer, the Yuletide Camellia live plant offers a spectacular display from late fall through early winter, providing much-needed cheer when most other plants are dormant. Originating from Japan, this cultivar of the Sasanqua Camellia family is known for its graceful, upright growth habit and glossy evergreen foliage, making it a year-round asset to any garden. It’s an ideal choice for creating a focal point, a festive hedge, or as a vibrant addition to mixed borders, particularly where its winter beauty can be appreciated.

The Yuletide Camellia live plant is a resilient and relatively low-maintenance option for gardeners seeking enduring beauty. Its ability to thrive in a variety of conditions, coupled with its stunning floral show, makes it a popular choice. Whether you’re an experienced horticulturist or a budding enthusiast, this plant promises to transform your garden into a winter wonderland.

Key Benefits

The Yuletide Camellia live plant offers numerous advantages, making it a cherished addition to any outdoor space. Its exceptional winter flowering habit is just one of many reasons to welcome this shrub into your garden.

• Stunning Winter Blooms: Enjoy a vibrant display of brilliant red flowers with bright yellow centers during the cooler months, providing unparalleled seasonal interest. The cheerful blooms of the Yuletide Camellia live plant are a welcome sight.
• Evergreen Foliage: Maintain year-round garden appeal with its lustrous, dark green leaves that provide a constant backdrop of color and texture, even when not in bloom.
• Deer Resistance: This camellia variety is generally unpalatable to deer, making it a great choice for gardens in areas prone to deer browsing.
• Versatile Landscaping: Its upright, bushy growth habit makes it suitable for hedges, privacy screens, foundation plantings, or as a specimen plant, enhancing various garden designs.
• Attracts Pollinators: Even in winter, the bright flowers can attract late-season pollinators, contributing to local biodiversity.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, the Yuletide Camellia live plant requires minimal care, making it an excellent option for gardeners seeking beauty without constant upkeep.
• Drought Tolerance: Exhibits good drought tolerance once mature, reducing the need for frequent watering in established gardens.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Yuletide Camellia live plant is straightforward, ensuring years of beautiful winter blooms. This shrub thrives in conditions that mimic its native habitat. It prefers a location with partial shade, especially protection from intense afternoon sun, which can scorch its leaves and flowers. Morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal. Well-draining, acidic soil is crucial for the health of your red camellia plant. Amend heavy clay soils with organic matter like compost or pine bark to improve drainage and acidity. Aim for a soil pH between 5.5 and 6.5. Regular watering is important, especially during dry spells and when the plant is establishing. Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. Reduce watering frequency once established, but ensure the plant does not dry out completely, particularly during bloom time.

Fertilize your Camellia sasanqua Yuletide in early spring after the last frost and again in mid-summer, using a slow-release, acid-forming fertilizer specifically formulated for camellias or other acid-loving plants. Avoid fertilizing in late summer or fall, as this can encourage new growth that is susceptible to winter damage. Pruning is generally minimal, focusing on removing dead, damaged, or crossing branches. You can also lightly shape the plant after it finishes flowering to maintain its desired form. While relatively robust, keep an eye out for common camellia pests like scale insects or diseases such as camellia petal blight. Good air circulation and proper watering practices can help prevent most issues. Understanding outdoor camellia care will ensure your plant flourishes.

Size & Details

This Yuletide Camellia live plant is shipped in a 6-inch nursery pot, providing a well-established root system ready for successful transplanting into your garden. At the time of shipment, the plant typically stands approximately 8-12 inches tall, with a bushy form that will quickly fill out. The winter blooming camellia has a moderate growth rate, reaching a mature height of 6-10 feet and a width of 5-7 feet over several years, forming an attractive, upright shrub. Its glossy, dark green leaves are relatively small, characteristic of the Sasanqua species. Expect the vibrant red and yellow blooms to appear from November through January, depending on your specific climate and growing conditions. This plant is a long-lived perennial shrub that will provide beauty for many seasons to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this Yuletide Camellia live plant get? A: The Yuletide Camellia live plant typically grows to a mature height of 6-10 feet and a width of 5-7 feet, forming an upright and bushy shrub. Its size makes it suitable for various landscape applications.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Yuletide Camellia live plant is primarily an outdoor shrub. It thrives in garden settings where it can be protected from harsh afternoon sun and enjoys well-draining, acidic soil.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This camellia prefers partial shade, ideally morning sun with protection from intense afternoon sun. Too much direct sun can scorch the leaves and flowers, impacting the health of your red camellia plant.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the Yuletide Camellia live plant is considered relatively easy to care for once established. It requires consistent moisture during establishment and a suitable acidic soil, but general maintenance is minimal.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your Yuletide Camellia live plant will arrive in a 6-inch nursery pot with a healthy, established root system, carefully packaged to ensure its safe journey.
• Q: How long until it blooms? A: As a mid-season bloomer, the Yuletide Camellia live plant typically flowers from late fall through early winter, generally between November and January, providing beautiful color when most other plants are dormant.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: This camellia is hardy in USDA Zones 7-9. If you are in these zones, it should survive winter outdoors. In colder zones, it may require winter protection or be grown in a container that can be moved indoors.
• Q: What’s the best soil for outdoor camellia care? A: The best soil for outdoor camellia care is well-draining and acidic, with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. Amending with organic matter like compost or pine bark is highly beneficial.