Anatomy Lesson: Planting a Flowering Hedge for the "Shoulder Season"

Anatomy Lesson: Planting a Flowering Hedge for the "Shoulder Season"

Colder zones may have all that colorful foliage to add excitement to the dwindling light of autumn days. However, in zones 6 through 10, you have something pretty awesome too-the fall and early winter blooms of camellias.

These spectacular flowering shrubs solve the problem of the quiet period. The one between summer's garden riot and the tender beauty of one emerging in spring. Richmond, VA-based landscape designer Monit Rosendale used one variety of camellia for a lush, elegant, totally-want-it hedge. This was to create overlapping multi-season interest in this landscape. The stand of Emerald Green arborvitae shrubs at the opposite end add strong structure. When not in bloom, the camellias keep their evergreen leaves year round.

We like Setsugekka Camellia for early to mid-season bloom (think right around the winter holidays). Or, if you prefer a cheery cherry to brighten your winter landscape, consider Monrovia's exclusive Vestito Rosso® Camellia. Layer on more drama with ground-cover type camellias such as White Doves in front of the hedge. Want even more options? Browse our complete Camellia collection. 

Tip and Tricks:

  • For a dense, full hedge, estimate the quantity you'll need. Do so by considering the full size width of your plants and roughly double the total amount of plants. (Example: If you have a 60 ft. span and space shrubs that get 8 ft wide at maturity 4 ft. on center. You would need 15 plants total.)
  • For much more about how to use camellias in the landscape along with suggested varieties, please visit here.
  • Need a few ideas for how to use the cut blooms of your camellias? Here are just of few of our favorites.

Questions or need specific plant advice? Leave a comment below.

setsukka300x300

Camellias Perfect For a Hedge

Apple Blossom Camellia

Camellia sasanqua 'Apple Blossom'
Item #2102
Fall Flowering

Debutante Camellia

Camellia japonica 'Debutante'
Item #1704
Beautiful Winter Flowers

Kramer's Supreme Camellia

Camellia japonica 'Kramer's Supreme'
Item #1812
Showy Winter Flowers

Nuccio's Bella Rossa Camellia

Camellia japonica 'Nuccio's Bella Rossa' Plant Patent #13,023
Item #1725
Long Bloom Season

Yuletide Camellia

Camellia sasanqua 'Yuletide'
Item #2232
Cool Season Flowers

Carter's Sunburst Camellia

Camellia japonica 'Carter's Sunburst'
Item #1638
Showy Winter Flowers

Bob Hope Camellia

Camellia japonica 'Bob Hope'
Item #1610
Bright Winter Flowers

Taylor's Perfection Camellia

Camellia x 'Taylor's Perfection'
Item #1520
Showy Winter Flowers

Pearl Maxwell Camellia

Camellia japonica 'Pearl Maxwell'
Item #1889
Beautiful Winter Flowers

Pink-A-Boo® Camellia

Camellia sasanqua 'Mondel' Plant Patent #21,687
Item #2233
Beautiful Winter Flowers

Previous Post 
2015-11-01 11:58:00
Kathleen Bard
Will these grow in 5 6 zones western Ohio
reply Reply
Elaine Reaves
Elaine Reaves 414Clyde Road Hartsville S C 29550
reply Reply
Linda Hiltner
These are my favorites! And down here (in South Carolina) they are absolutely beautiful this time of year. A perfect transition from Summer into Fall.
reply Reply
Paul Taylor, OCNP
Camellias are a terrific choice for a blooming hedge. All year privacy and then the fall into winter blooms.....doesn't get much better than that! Here in Oregon they look wonderful. Have Fun in the Garden!
reply Reply
Yvonne R. Chavis
Help! I want those beautiful dwarf patio fruit trees that have the fruit on them to be delivered to me. PLEASE
reply Reply
lanka
Would like a Camellia that gets to around 4 feet tall please? Thanks!! Francis Beling [email protected]
reply Reply
Maudy Hedlund
1883 Hawthorne Place
reply Reply
Maudy Hedlund
Do deer eat camelias?
reply Reply
VideoPortal
The "shoulder" hedge, which serves as the northern edge of the garden, also fills the space next to the void of the great lawn of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. These hedges use a metal armature , to prefigure the mature hedge.
reply Reply
Emanuel Pontes
Beautiful Camelias
reply Reply
Emanuel Pontes
Lovely
reply Reply
John miller
Do you have a list of Deer residence plants ? Im a new home in zone 8 Orcas Island wa. And fencing is not an option. Im looking for shrubs and flowers, we have lots of rocks with pathways.
reply Reply
Bill Rosenfelt
Are you able to receive orders from the public and ship the plants to a retailer such as Lucas Nursery in Oviedo , FL.? Please send me a listing of the plants that you offer that will grow well in Winter Park/Orlando Fl. I have purchased 2 Nuccios Gem, a TAYLORS PREFECTION 2 Nuccio's Bella Rosa a Nuccio's Pearl, a Pearl Maxwell, a Kramer's Supreme, an April Remembered, a Magnoliaflora and 2 six foot sasanquas yuletide and apple blossom. I am primarily interested in Japonica and reticulata camellias and I want my japonicas to be around 40 inches in the ground. All of the plants that I mentioned above are absolutely perfect and I can hardly wait to see the blooms. There are lots of buds on those plants just waiting to bloom.
reply Reply
Camellia sasanqua - Die Herbstkamelie | Stephans Blog
[…] Camellia sasanqua als Hecke […]
reply Reply
Jay Jones
What is the initial spacing on the hedge?
reply Reply
Martha Moore
Hi, could you please confirm the type of white camellia hedge shown in the picture on this page? I can't tell if it is the Setsugekka mentioned in the story? Thank you!
reply Reply
Milton Zelman
I'm looking for a camellia that doesn't drop its petals so quickly. I presently have a 150 ft. row of 25 bushes that produce copious amounts of single-petal, white flowers. But as soon as they bloom, the petals drop. It looks messy to me -- as though toilet tissue was torn and spread at their bases.
reply Reply

Please login to comment.

Don't have an account?

Sign Up for free