Cleopatra Pink Camellia

You may be familiar with typical camellias, with their large, double flowers and strong, upright growth. These japonica type camellias are the most commonly grown, and most flower in late winter or early spring. There is another type, though, called sasanqua camellias, and these typically flower in fall or early winter, and have smaller, less formal flowers. Ideal for extending the camellia season, and easier to grow, one of the best is the Cleopatra Camellia, a vigorous and dense bush growing about 6 feet tall and rarely more than 4 feet wide. It is a profuse bloomer, abundantly covered in beautiful, 2 ½ inch rose-pink blooms. With 5 broad petals, deeply notched at their tip and shading from darker pink to lighter pink at the base, each bloom has a prominent yellow center and a charming, graceful beauty. A variety that originated in Japan, it has exactly the right look for a Zen garden, or for any garden at all. Because it blooms in fall it adds a whole new season to your garden, as a specimen, in a border or woodland setting, or in a pot, where it would brighten a terrace or a courtyard.

• Abundant display of rose-pink blooms with a golden center
• Blooms through fall and early winter
• Smaller growing, but dense and upright
• Tolerates more sun and poorer soils than classic camellias do
• Grow in acidic soil for the best results

You can even plant the Cleopatra Camellia in full sun, or in a spot with afternoon shade – it is more tolerant of sun than classic, japonica-type camellias are. Plant it in rich, moist, well-drained soil that is acidic, with a pH value no more than 6.0. Again, it is more tolerant of poorer conditions. Water regularly when young to develop a good root system, it has some limited drought tolerance. Deer normally ignore it, and it doesn’t have any serious pest or disease problems when growing in good conditions. It can be trimmed or pruned in late winter, if needed, before new growth begins.