Yuletide Camellia Shrub

Vibrant Red Blooms for up to Four Months Yuletide Camellias are famous for their giant red blooms. However, the best part is how these blooms last and last and last! In fact, these flowers stick around longer than any other camellia blooms... up to four months! The show starts in September, when your Yuletide camellia begins to show color while other plants are winding down for the year. Its like fireworks in the fall! This plant is easy to grow, and very popular among beginner gardeners. It gives you so much color with such little effort! This is a cold-hardy camellia and adapts well to many climates. Anyone in growing zones 7-9 can be certain to get the best growth from this low-maintenance evergreen. You can even clip off a few branches and put them around your home for colorful flower arrangements. Cut blooms before they open and place in a vase of water to watch them come to life. They add plenty of character and last for weeks! This lush evergreen has a moderate growth rate reaches 8-10 feet tall. Plant it against the foundation of your home or along a fence for a burst of color to liven up dull areas. Yuletide Camellias also make fantastic container plants. This variety is perfect for those with little space, yet want to add color to a dreary landscape during the cold season. You are sure to be the only one in the neighborhood with magnificent red blooms in December. Blooming at a time when most plants are barren makes the Yuletide Camellia a great addition to winter gardens. You are sure to fall in love with the vibrant red blooms and lush, glossy green leaves. This is one of our most popular camellias... and it's been a hot plant ever since it was introduced. Be sure to get yours now while it's still available. Planting and Care 1. Planting: Plant in an area with partial sun (4 to 6 hours of sun daily) area that has well-drained soil. You can amend the soil with peat moss, compost or humus to feed the Camellia’s root system, though it will adapt to a number of soil types. Dig your hole about 2 inches shorter than the depth of the root ball and 2 feet wider than the width. Place your Camellia, backfill your hole until the root system is completely covered and mound the soil over the top. Water thoroughly to settle the roots. Adding mulch around your Camellia will help the soil retain moisture, regulate temperature and prevent weeds from growing. Your Camellia can also be container-planted – simply select a pot that’s twice the size of your plant’s shipped container and ensure it has drainage holes. Use an organic soil mix, place your plant and water until you see it flowing from the drainage holes. 2. Watering: Feel the soil under the layer of mulch every few days. If the soil is dry, water and allow the water to soak into the soil as you pour. In cooler, moist weather, you may not need to water for weeks. During the blooming season, you can increase the watering to encourage fuller blossoms. For container-planted Camellias, check the soil about 2 or 3 inches down. Then, water until you see water draining from the bottom of the pot. 3. Fertilizing: Fertilize your Camellia in the spring, using a soluble fertilizer for acid-loving plants once or twice a month in spring and mid-summer. 4. Pruning: After your blooming season has ended, remove any dead or weak wood (a gray tinge to the bark is an easy way to identify dead branches). Shorten lower limbs to encourage more upright growth.