The best month to plant camellias is October or November when the soil cools down. The full planting window runs from October through March. Fall planting gives your plant the biggest head start on root growth before summer heat arrives.
If you want to know when to plant camellia sasanqua for the best results, aim for early fall. I planted two groups of the same variety in my yard to test this. The first group went in during October and the second group went in the next March. By the end of that first summer, my fall-planted camellias were twice the size of the spring ones. The fall group had months of cool weather to spread roots before the heat kicked in.
Cool season planting works so well because your camellia puts all its energy into roots instead of leaves. During winter, the plant sits quiet on top while the root system pushes out into the soil around it. When spring arrives, those strong roots can feed a burst of new growth and flower buds. A spring-planted camellia has to grow roots and new leaves at the same time, and that split focus slows everything down.
MSU Extension says your planting hole needs well-drained, acidic soil mixed with organic matter. Dig the hole twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper. Set the top of the root ball level with the soil surface or a tiny bit above it. Planting too deep smothers the root crown and can kill your camellia within the first year.
The full camellia planting season runs from October through March in most zones. You can plant during any of those months if the ground isn't frozen. But I've found that the earlier you plant in fall, the better your results will be come spring. A camellia planted in October has five months of root growth before the summer heat tests it. One planted in March only gets a few weeks.
Here's the step by step method I use for every camellia I plant. First, I dig the hole twice as wide as the pot and mix the backfill soil with 30% pine bark. Then I set the plant in the hole with the root ball top just above the soil line. I fill around it, press the soil firm, and soak it deep with water right away.
After planting, I spread 2 to 3 inches of pine straw mulch around the base. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk to prevent rot at the soil line. Water your new camellia deeply once per week for the first year until the roots take hold. I've lost two plants to drought in their first summer because I thought rain was enough. It wasn't.
Stay away from summer planting if you can help it. The heat puts too much stress on a new plant that hasn't spread its roots yet. Your camellia needs all its energy just to survive the heat, and it won't grow the roots it needs to thrive long term. Wait for that first cool snap in October and you'll give your plant the best chance at a strong start.
Read the full article: Camellia Sasanqua Varieties and Care
