- Mature height
- 2m to 4m
- Mature width
- 2m to 3m
Camellia japonica 'Coral Delight' is an evergreen shrub grown for its coral pink semi-double flowers, each showing a boss of golden stamens at the centre. Foliage is small, glossy and dark green on a compact, densely branched frame. The cultivar traces back to williamsii breeding, which gives it a tidier habit than most japonicas.
Give it dappled light or morning sun with afternoon shade, in acidic, free draining soil enriched with compost. It suits cool and warm temperate gardens from Hobart and Melbourne through to Sydney and Adelaide, and handles light to moderate frost once established. Growth runs 20 to 50 centimetres a year, faster with steady summer water.
Its compact size makes it useful in courtyards, entry beds and narrow side gardens where a taller camellia would crowd the space. It also holds its form in a large pot on a shaded balcony or patio. For a buyer, that means flowers and evergreen structure from a shrub that stays within its allotted room.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Coral Delight Camellia
What is a Coral Delight Camellia?
Coral Delight is an evergreen flowering shrub in the Theaceae family, grown for coral pink semi-double blooms carried through winter and spring. It is compact and densely branched, with small glossy dark leaves. Although sold under Camellia japonica, its parentage includes Camellia saluenensis, which accounts for the tidy habit and free flowering.
How big does Coral Delight Camellia grow?
In an open garden bed it reaches about 1.5 to 2 metres high and 1 to 1.5 metres wide after ten to fifteen years. It is one of the smaller camellias, so it rarely needs hard cutting back to stay in scale. Container plants stay smaller again, usually around a metre.
When does Coral Delight flower?
Flowering runs from mid winter into spring, generally July through to October in most southern Australian gardens, and a few weeks earlier in warmer coastal districts. Buds open in succession rather than all at once, so the display holds for several weeks. Spent flowers drop cleanly from the bush.
Does it need sun or shade?
Morning sun with afternoon shade gives the best result. Full afternoon sun scorches the leaves and shortens the life of each bloom, while deep shade reduces bud set. Dappled light beneath a high open canopy works well. A spot on the shaded side of a wall or fence suits it in most gardens.
Can Coral Delight be grown in a pot?
Yes. Its compact size makes it one of the better camellias for containers. Use a pot at least 40 centimetres across with a free draining acidic potting mix, water consistently through summer, and feed after flowering with a camellia and azalea fertiliser. Repot or root prune every three to four years.
Is Coral Delight frost tolerant?
It handles light to moderate frost once established, which covers most temperate and cool temperate gardens. Young plants benefit from shelter in their first two winters. Open blooms can brown at the edges after a heavy frost, particularly if early morning sun strikes them while still frozen, so a position shaded at dawn helps.
How do I care for a Coral Delight Camellia?
Mulch the root zone with leaf litter or bark, keeping it clear of the trunk, and water deeply through dry spells rather than lightly and often. Feed once after flowering and again in late summer with a fertiliser formulated for acid loving plants. Prune lightly straight after flowering to shape. Yellowing leaves usually mean the soil pH has drifted too high.
