For many gardeners, decorating for the holiday season also includes the addition of seasonal plants. Potted specimens that can be displayed indoors are exceptionally popular. However, there are also several other species of plants that can grow and bloom outdoors. One such example is the “Yuletide” camellia bush. Learning more about this plant’s needs and the Yuletide camellia bloom time can help you decide whether or not this ornamental shrub is a good choice for your home landscape.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
‘Yuletide’ camellias might be on their way to becoming the South’s next favorite holiday bloom. These beautiful evergreen shrubs, also known as Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’, bring shiny green foliage and eye-catching red flowers to the garden. Sometimes they bloom a little earlier, meaning the holiday season can get started even sooner in your garden.
The ‘Yuletide’ camellia as a “compactly growing shrub glossy, dark green leaves which remain throughout the year. Bright red single blooms with contrasting yellow stamens are formed during the winter.” It’s that color pairing that’s the real draw for these camellia blossoms, as the vibrantly pinkish-red petals contrast with the bright golden stamens and deep green leaves.
They also make gorgeous cut flowers for your festive holiday vases. (Nestle them alongside evergreen clippings from your Christmas tree for a pretty DIY arrangement.) In the garden, the shrubs are extremely versatile and can even work as hedge plantings thanks to the attractive evergreen foliage that’s borne thickly on the branches.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Camellias ‘Yuletide’ prefers a partially shaded environment. It likes filtered light and cannot be exposed to harsh sunlight; direct sunlight will burn its leaves. When kept indoors, potted plants can be placed 46 to 91 cm near the window. When planted outdoors, seedlings should be shaded. More filtered light is required by adult plants, as it contributes to blooming. Insufficient sunlight for extended periods will unfavorably affect the growth of camellias ‘Yuletide’, resulting in thin leaves, fewer blooms, and reduced ornamental value.
Temperature and Humidity
‘Yuletide’ can be grown in USDA zones 7a-10b and is hardy to the single digits, which means it can withstand some of the South’s more punishing cold snaps. They are not winter hardy where temperatures dip below 0 degrees. Camellias can develop fungal problems during a cool, wet spring, but they have little issue with the hot and humid days of summer.
Watering
Camellias ‘Yuletide’ likes water, so its soil should always be kept moist. Its water demand is high in the growing season during spring and summer, when it is best to water it every 1-2 days. Arid soil and dry air during flower bud development can result in a decreased number of flowers and petals, and may also cause spider mite infection. In autumn and winter, water twice a month or so to ensure the soil is not dry.
The best watering times in spring and summer are morning and evening. At noon, the temperature is too high and water loss can happen fast. Plants can be watered at noon in autumn and winter because the temperature is usually too low in the morning and evening, which invites frostbite to the root system. It is best to water with rainwater or distilled water. Tap water is alkaline, and not suitable for camellias ‘Yuletide’. Normally, the surface soil can be covered with 8 cm of bark to keep temperature and humidity constant and to restrain the growth of weeds.
Soil
Suitable soil for camellias ‘Yuletide’ is slightly acidic, moist, rich in organic matter, well-drained, and air permeable. The suitable pH value is 6-6.5. Accumulated water in the soil can lead to root rot. An example of a good culture medium ratio is 1/2 arenosols, 1/4 coco coir, and 1/4 sphagnum moss. Coco coir is high in salinity and should be washed with water before use.
Special culture medium for camellias ‘Yuletide’ can also be purchased. Generally, the soil should be replaced every 1-2 years to avoid soil compaction, which affects the plant’s growth. For pot planting, use a pot with a diameter larger than 46 cm.
Fertilizing
Several kinds of fertilizers can be used during this plant’s growth. In spring, there is no need to fertilize camellias ‘Yuletide’ immediately after repotting. In summer, slow-release nitrogenous fertilizer can be applied once during the vigorous stem and leaf growth period to make leaves greener and more luxuriant. Phosphate-potassium fertilizer can be applied 1-2 times from the time of bud appearance to blooming. Special fertilizer for camellias ‘Yuletide’ or Rhododendron can also be used.
Excessive fertilizer will result in yellow, lusterless leaves, growth stagnation, and bud contraction. Camellias ‘Yuletide’ growth, development, sprouting, and blooming will be affected in mild cases. Branches and leaves will wither and die in severe cases. At this point, fertilization must be stopped, and the soil should be replaced if necessary. Insufficient fertilizer will result in slow growth, small, thin, and yellowish leaves, and shrinking leaf buds. The frequency and concentration of fertilization should be appropriately reintroduced in this situation, rather than using too-concentrated fertilizer all at once. Control the frequency of fertilization.
Planting Instructions
Camellias ‘Yuletide’ can be planted in any season except during hot summers. Generally, it is best to plant camellias ‘Yuletide’ in spring. Dig a pit with twice the width and the same depth and height as the root ball. If planting camellias ‘Yuletide’ outdoors, the spacing between plants should be more than 13 cm. When backfilling the soil, mix some decomposed fertilizer in a few inches from the top of the soil.
Pruning
In optimal conditions, ‘Yuletide’ can grow moderately fast to 8 to 10 ft. tall and 6 to 8 ft. wide. The plant can be pruned to remove dead or dying twigs or when it becomes overgrown. Reshape or shear your shrub just after flowering to avoid removing next year’s flowers. A more severe pruning of 1/3 to 1/2 of the shrub is possible, though flowers may not return for a couple of years. It’s generally better to manage the shrub’s size and health with light pruning each year.
Propagation
There are many propagation methods for camellias ‘Yuletide’, such as cutting, grafting, layering, sowing, and tissue culture. Generally, cutting is the main method and is done in summer and winter. Naturally warm and moist conditions are favorable to the rooting and sprouting of branches, which increases the survival rate.
Transplanting
Camellias ‘Yuletide’ is best transplanted during cooler periods, such as early to late spring or late fall to mid-winter. Choose a location with partial shade and well-drained soil to ensure optimal growth. Water regularly to help the plant establish.
Potting and Repotting
Camellias can be successfully grown in a pot with proper care. Plant in a pot with drainage holes in a potting mix made for camellias and azaleas. Repot in a larger size once the plant’s roots outgrow the container. Once the plant has reached the size you prefer, you can repot in the same size pot every three years. Simply remove the plant, trim off an inch or two of the root ball, and repot in fresh soil. Use a fertilizer for acid-loving plants, cutting the strength in half for your potted camellia.
Overwintering
If you live in USDA zone 6 or colder, it’s best to grow ‘Yuletide’ in a pot so that you can move it indoors in winter. Move the plant into a greenhouse or sunroom before the first cold snap, especially if temperatures will drop below 0 degrees.
How to Get to Bloom
The single blooms of ‘Yuletide’ camellias appear in the winter months from late November (at the earliest) through January and make a lovely garden accent. Individual flowers last just a few days before they drop, but camellia buds may open successively, putting on a show for several weeks.
Flower buds first develop in the summer, so avoid pruning in the latter half of the year to preserve your blooms. Freezing temperatures can sometimes cause buds and flowers to drop prematurely; covering the plant with a sheet before a hard freeze may help.
Pests and Diseases
Common Pests & Diseases
Camellias are susceptible to fungal diseases that can cause leaf spots and galls, petal blight, cankers, and root rot, among other things. In most cases, the best course of action is to remove badly infected leaves, flowers, or twigs; rake up fallen leaves and flowers; avoid getting the leaves wet when watering; and improve drainage if needed.
Camellias can also be infected by scale insects, which pierce leaves and suck the sap. A bad infestation can cause leaves to turn yellow or to be covered with sticky sap and black mold. The insects gather underneath the leaves and often look cottony. They can be scraped off or sprayed with horticultural oil.
Common Problems
In addition to the common problems of fungal infections and scale, camellias can be susceptible to yellowing and browning leaves. Yellow leaves with green veins indicate that your shrub has chlorosis, which means the leaves are not producing enough chlorophyll.
- Leaves Turning Yellow
Yellowing leaves, or chlorosis, can be caused by a lack of iron (some yellowing and leaf drop of older leaves is normal). If your shrub was planted in an alkaline soil with too much lime, it will have difficulty taking up the iron it needs from the soil. You can have your soil tested by the local extension office to determine if it is alkaline, then follow your extension office’s recommendations for adding sulfates to acidify your soil. You can also spray the leaves with an iron compound to green them up, but the results are temporary.
- Leaves Turning Brown
If you find scorched or bronzed areas on leaves, your camellia could be suffering from sunscald. Consider this a possibility if the scorching occurs on a side of the plant that is exposed to full sun. Move the shrub to a shadier location or provide more shade where the camellia is located.
III. Uses and Benefits
In Japan their leaves are used for tea and the seeds for tea seed oil. Camellias appreciate rich, acidic, moist, well-draining soils. Use in the light shady garden as an accent or specimen plant, as an espalier or hedge, or in containers and as cut flowers.
IV. Harvesting and Storage
Camellias ‘Yuletide’ blooms once a year, starting between the end of winter and spring. The bloom time is relatively long, i. e. 1-2 months for most varieties. Their flowers, branches, and leaves can be cut for appreciation. The vase life of the flowers is about one week, and that of branches and leaves is 15 days. Use sharp gardening scissors to trim the base of each flowering branch obliquely at a 45° angle to increase the water absorption area. Quickly put it in a vase with clean water to avoid water loss.
