The camellia often blooms in winter, when other plants are far from thinking about it. This makes this plant particularly attractive to many garden owners and hobby gardeners. Unfortunately, camellias often suffer from frost damage.
How do you protect camellias from frost damage?
To protect camellias from frost damage, they should be overwintered outside in mild areas and covered with a layer of mulch or leaves. In cold regions, a cool and bright winter quarters such as a cold greenhouse or winter garden are recommended. Always water regularly and only prune in spring.
Camellias are often offered as hardy, although this is only true to a limited extent. Therefore, you should take this claim with caution. The same applies when camellias are sold as houseplants. These plants feel relatively comfortable at temperatures between +5°C and +19°C. It shouldn't get significantly warmer or colder in the long term.
Are there even hardy camellias?
Young camellias are almost always sensitive to frost. Only after a few years are they able to overwinter outside, at least in a mild region. However, most species are only partially hardy and can only tolerate short-term, mild frost. Among the newer varieties, however, there are also hardy species to be found.
How do I protect my camellia from frost damage?
If you live in a mild region (wine-growing region, Rhine ditch or similar), then you can overwinter your camellia in the garden. However, the prerequisite for successful overwintering is that the plant is at least four years old, is in a wind-protected location and is protected from unexpected frost. A thick layer of bark mulch or leaves over the root ball is usually sufficient.
In a region with particularly cold and/or long winters, it is better to move your camellia to suitable winter quarters. It should be cool and light there. A cold greenhouse or a slightly heated winter garden is ideal. But don't forget to water your camellia there. As an evergreen plant, it needs regular water.
The most important things in brief:
- mostly only conditionally hardy
- Always sensitive to frost in the first few years
- Older plants should only overwinter outside in mild areas
- ideal winter quarters: cool and bright (cold greenhouse, slightly heated winter garden)
- water even in winter
- Pruning only in spring
Tip
If you want to remove shoots damaged by frost, then wait until (late) spring, as a camellia often sprouts again.