Camellia lutchuensis hybrid 'Fairy Blush'

A spreading, evergreen shrub growing to around 1.5m tall and 1m wide depending on pruning.

A hybrid camellia with small single white or pale pink flowers tinged pink but fully pink in bud and slightly fragrant. It also has pronounced yellow stamens. Flowering occurs from May to July. Leaves are ovate leathery and mid to dark green.

Best planted in partial shade with moist but well-drained acidic soil.

Mulch well in spring and water thoroughly during dry periods for the first two or three years. Propagation of cultivars is always from cuttings or by grafting. Prune after flowering to keep plants compact using secateurs to thin and shorten branches, or hedge clippers to promote dense growth. Those with upright habits may be kept slender by training to a single leader and after flowering shortening and thinning lateral branches. Young plants require thorough watering during dry periods over the first two or three years. Mulching helps to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Plants in very acidic soil will benefit from a light application (50g/m2) of dolomite lime every three years.

Check plants in spring for leaf-roller caterpillars, aphids and the nymph stage of thrips. Aphids on other plants can secrete honeydew onto leaves below which in turn grows sooty mould. This is most common when plants are grown in full shade. Camellias are also susceptible to leaf gall.

Camellia Garden

This camellia flowers over a longer period than some other cultivars.