- Mature height
- 2m to 4m
- Mature width
- 2m to 3m
Camellia japonica 'Desire' carries large formal double flowers that open pale, almost white at the centre, and deepen to rose pink towards the petal edges. The bicoloured effect is sharp and consistent from bloom to bloom. Foliage is glossy mid green, and the plant builds an upright, rounded outline over several seasons.
Position it in partial shade or gentle morning sun, in acidic soil with plenty of organic matter and reliable drainage. It performs across temperate zones in the southern states and along the eastern seaboard, copes with light to moderate frost once established, and adds around 20 to 40 centimetres each year.
It works as a courtyard specimen, in a shaded entry bed, or in a large glazed pot near a doorway where the flower detail can be seen up close. Good drainage matters most in containers. The picotee edging gives the plant a point of difference that plain pink camellias do not have.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Desire Camellia
What is a Desire Camellia?
Desire is an evergreen flowering shrub bearing large formal double blooms that shade from a near white centre to clear rose pink at the petal edges. The flowering season runs through winter and spring. Growth is upright and rounded, and the glossy foliage stays dense from the base of the plant upwards.
How big does Desire Camellia grow?
Expect roughly 2 to 3 metres high and 1.5 to 2 metres wide at maturity in a garden bed, reached over ten to twenty years. It is easily held smaller with an annual trim after flowering. Grown in a container it will settle at around 1.2 to 1.5 metres.
When does Desire Camellia flower?
Flowering starts in winter and continues into spring, roughly July to October depending on district. In warmer coastal gardens buds can begin opening in late June. The bicoloured effect is strongest in cool weather, and late season flowers opening in warm spring conditions often show less contrast at the edges.
Can Desire Camellia be grown in pots?
Yes, and it is one of the varieties commonly chosen for containers. Use a pot of at least 45 centimetres diameter, a premium acidic mix, and raise the base clear of the ground so water drains away freely. Containers dry out quickly in summer, so check the moisture twice a week in hot weather.
Does Desire Camellia need sun or shade?
Partial shade or filtered morning sun suits it. Hot afternoon sun burns the foliage and bleaches the flowers, while heavy shade produces leggy growth and fewer buds. A position under high deciduous trees is close to ideal, giving winter light while the canopy is bare and shade through the summer months.
Is Desire Camellia drought tolerant?
It is moderately drought tolerant once well established, but it is not a dry garden plant. Camellias set next season's flower buds through summer, so a dry January usually shows up as a poor display the following winter. Deep watering every week or two through summer, plus thick mulch, keeps it performing.
How do I care for a Desire Camellia?
Plant into acidic soil improved with compost, keep the graft union above soil level, and mulch to about 75 millimetres. Water deeply through summer, feed after flowering with a camellia fertiliser, and top up in autumn if growth is weak. Remove spent blooms in humid districts to reduce camellia petal blight.
