Christmas Camellia

Frost Tolerance: Hardy to 15°F ( -10°C)

Heat Tolerance: Give afternoon shade in summer

Sun Exposure: Light shade to shade

Origin: Japan

Growth Habits: Evergreen shrub, up to 8 feet tall, 8 feet wide (2.4m x 2.4m)

Watering Needs: Regular to abundant water the first year, regular later years

Propagation: Cutting or occasionally seed, layering, grafting/budding

• by semi-hardwood stem tip, leaf-bud cuttings, in early summer. Apply IBA TALC 8000 PPM. Use intermittent mist. Root in 6-8 weeks. Wound cuttings. Take cuttings when they turn from green to brown..
• by air layers, in spring. one slanting cut 1/4-1/2 way through stem.
• by cleft, whip grafts, in late winter. Use a C. japonica as graftstock. Can also be grafted in Spring.
• by seeds, in late summer. The seeds can also be harvested in late summer. The seeds need scarification.

Culture:
Mulch abundantly, and feed with a fertilizer for acid loving plants.