Product details
Product Overview
Camellia japonica Margaret Davis is an evergreen shrub with ruffled, peony-form flowers featuring creamy-white petals edged in rose pink. Glossy, dark green foliage provides year-round interest, making this Australian cultivar suitable for sheltered garden beds, informal hedges and large containers.
Growth:
Slow to moderate growing with an upright, bushy habit. Typically reaches 2–3 m high and 1–2 m wide, although older plants can reach around 4 m high in favourable conditions.
Light Requirements:
Prefers part shade or filtered sunlight. Gentle morning sun is suitable, with protection from hot afternoon sun and drying winds, particularly in hot inland areas.
Soil Requirements:
Requires well-drained, slightly acidic soil enriched with organic matter. Avoid alkaline soils and waterlogged positions. For containers, use a quality potting mix formulated for camellias and azaleas.
Water Requirements:
Water deeply and regularly during establishment. Maintain even soil moisture during dry weather, particularly while flower buds are developing. Apply mulch to help retain moisture, keeping it clear of the trunk.
Frost Tolerance:
Established plants tolerate frost, although flower buds, open blooms and young growth can be damaged by severe frosts. A sheltered position beneath an open tree canopy can provide some protection.
Drought Tolerance:
Low to moderate once established. Performs best with reliable moisture and requires supplementary watering during prolonged dry periods and hot weather.
Flowering Information:
Produces creamy-white, peony-form flowers with rose-pink to reddish-pink margins from winter into early spring. The depth and distribution of the pink markings can vary between blooms.
Spacing Requirements:
Space approximately 1.5–2 m apart for an informal hedge or screen. Allow around 2 m between plants when growing as individual specimens.
Fertiliser Requirements:
Apply a fertiliser formulated for camellias and azaleas after flowering, following the label directions. Water well before and after feeding, and avoid applying fertiliser to dry or heat-stressed plants.
Care and Maintenance:
Prune lightly after flowering to maintain shape and encourage bushy growth. Remove dead or damaged branches and collect fallen flowers. Maintain a layer of organic mulch over the root zone and avoid digging around the shallow roots.
