COOL AS A Camellia

When temperatures drop, most plants wait out the chilly months, but camellias put on a show. Discover how to have these beauties thriving in your yard.

- JILL M. STAAKE

NOTHING SAYS SOUTHERN CHARM like the glossy foliage of camellias studded with showy blooms in the cooler months drawing early bees and hummingbirds. Camellias have a reputation for being finicky, but if your location is right, nothing could be easier to grow than these glorious stunners.

Right Plant, Right Place

In the right environment, camellias are a snap to grow. “Parts of the country naturally provide the conditions that camellias love,” says Megan McConnell, horticulturist and plant information director at Monrovia. “If you live in the right place, once your camellia is established, it needs almost no care. They thrive in the Southeast and along the West Coast, from San Diego to Vancouver, British Columbia.” Areas with hot, dry conditions aren’t ideal for camellias, nor are those with very cold winters. Generally these plants thrive in Zones 7 to 9, where winters are mild. Temperatures below 10 degrees will damage the buds, but Megan has good news for those in cooler areas.

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