1/10

Camellia

About Camellia

Camellia is a popular houseplant 🌿 that is a fun challenge to grow and needs regular watering to thrive. They do best in long-lasting, direct light ☀️ and should be less than 1 foot from a window.

Camellia likes soil that is well draining. Your plant shouldn't need added fertilizers if you repot each time it doubles in size.

Camellia belongs to the Camellia genus, and is native to China, Korea, and Central and Southern Japan.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Camellia japonica

Genus

Camellia

Family

Theaceae

Order

Ericales

Also known as

Japanese camellia, Common camellia, Tsubaki, Rose of winter and Japonica

How to care for Camellia

💦 Water

How often to water your Camellia

Camellia needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Camellia in your home

Camellia love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Camellia does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Camellia in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Camellia

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Camellia: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Camellia after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Camellia

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Camellia can be challenging to care for, according to some plant parents. Check out the reviews down below to learn from their experiences!

How to Grow Camellia →

Benefits of Growing Camellia →

Common Camellia Problems →

Outdoor Care Guide for Camellia →

💦 Water Needs

Camellia prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Camellia Water Frequency →

Camellia Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Camellia requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Camellia Light Requirements →

Camellia Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Camellia is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

Is Camellia Edible? →

Camellia Toxicity to Cats →

Camellia Toxicity to Dogs →

Camellia Toxicity to Humans →

🪴 Soil

Camellia does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Camellia →

Best Pots for Camellia →

When and How to Successfully Repot Camellia →

What Are Healthy Camellia Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Camellia grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Camellia →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Camellia grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

Camellia Lifecycle →

Camellia Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Camellia →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Camellia can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 7a-9b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Camellia Temperature Tolerance →

Camellia Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Camellia →

When to Plant Camellia →

How to Plant Camellia →

Where to Plant Camellia →

Winter Care for Camellia →

Best Companion Plants for Camellia →

Is Camellia a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

Camellia can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:

Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
To get the cutting to root, you can either:
- Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
- Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.

How to Propagate Camellia →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Camellia, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.