Winter’s Fire Camellia

Camellia hybrid ‘Winter’s Fire’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6a-9b (10a?) Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Shrub

Species: Camellia Hybrid

Height at Maturity: 8-10′

Width at Maturity: 4-5′
Spacing: 3-4′ for solid hedges; 8’+ for space between plants

Flower Color: Pink, Red, Coral with White spots and blotches!

Flower Size: 3-3.5″

Flowering Period: Late Fall to Mid Winter

Flower Type: Semi-Double

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Dark Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: No

Berry Color: NA

Sun Needs: Morning Sun with Afternoon Shade or Filtered Sun, All Day Filtered Sun

Water Needs: Average, Lower when established

Soil Type: Clay (amended), Loam, Sand (amended), Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist

Soil pH: 5.0 – 6.5 (Acid)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer, Drought (when established), Heat, Humidity

Intolerances: Direct Afternoon Sun, Constantly Soggy Soil

Description

Named for its cold tolerance as far north as USDA Zone 6a, ‘Winter’s Fire’ was perhaps Dr. Ackerman’s most intriguing cold hardy Camellia introductions. It sports abundant large flowers with a mix of red, pink and coral on the petals, and don’t be surprised if some of the petals display white splotches!

In our gardens the flowers of Winter’s Fire appear October into December providing unrivaled winter interest when there’s not much else blooming in the garden. The plant has a columnar form weeping habit that reaches 6 to 10 feet tall and only about 4 to 5 feet wide depending on pruning. Great for those narrow spots in home foundation plantings and other areas. The semi-glossy, deep green foliage provides a perfect backdrop for the abundance of delightful flowers which are excellent for cutting and displaying in your favorite vase.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 6 to 10 feet tall and only 4 to 5 feet wide, the Winter’s Fire Camellia is ideal for use to fill those narrow spots in home foundation plantings and other areas of the landscape. Winter’s Fire Camellia is ideal for use as a specimen, grouped, or as a hedge or screen in landscape and partially shaded woodland borders. A fine addition to winter gardens, pink theme gardens, camellia gardens, cottage gardens, cut flower gardens and woodland borders. Also suitable for growing in containers that can be brought indoors where this plant isn’t reliably winter hardy above USDA Zone 6b. Find Your Zone

Suggested Spacing: 3 to 4 feet apart for solid hedge; 8 feet or more apart for space between plants

Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a, where this Camellia variety is not reliably winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.

Growing Preferences

Camellia adapt well to various soil types however prefer a moist but well-drained acidic soil that is rich in organic matter. Constantly soggy soil is a slow killer. In general, Camellia grows and blooms better in partial shade with some shelter from the hot afternoon sun. Morning sun with afternoon shade or filtered sunlight is perfect. All-day filtered sun is fine.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant, fertilize, prune and water Camellias…

Planting Camellias
Pruning Camellias
How To Fertilize & Water Camellias
How To Espalier Plants & Trees

*Espalier (pronounced: ih-spal-yay) …an ornamental shrub or tree that has been trained to grow flat against a wall, fence, or other vertical, flat surface.

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