- Mature height
- 2m to 4m
- Mature width
- 2m to 3m
Camellia japonica 'Spanish Dancer' is an evergreen shrub with large, vivid pink blooms and glossy dark foliage on an upright, densely branched frame. The flowers open wide and hold their colour well, giving a strong ornamental display from mid winter through into the first weeks of spring.
It prefers morning sun with afternoon shade, or bright dappled light all day. Soil should be acidic and free draining, with mulch to keep the shallow roots cool. Growth runs 20 to 50 cm a year. Light to moderate frost is tolerated once established, which covers most temperate Australian gardens.
Use it for colour in a shaded bed, as a clipped shape flanking a doorway, or in a mixed border underplanted with hellebores and clivias. It also holds up in a large planter. Its value to a buyer is dependable colour in the months when little else is flowering.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Spanish Dancer Camellia
What is Camellia japonica 'Spanish Dancer'?
An evergreen flowering shrub grown for large, vivid pink blooms held against dense glossy foliage. It has the upright, well branched habit typical of japonica camellias and keeps its leaves all year. Flowering falls in winter and spring, which is when the plant does most of its ornamental work.
How big does Spanish Dancer Camellia grow?
Roughly 2 to 3 metres tall by 1.5 to 2 metres wide at maturity in open ground. It takes many years to reach that size, so most garden plants sit well under it. Regular light pruning after flowering will keep it compact and encourage branching lower down the plant.
Is it frost tolerant?
Yes, to light and moderate frost once the plant has established. Hard frost on open flowers will brown the petals, though the plant itself is unharmed and keeps producing new buds. In cold districts choose a spot sheltered from early morning sun so that frozen buds warm gradually.
Does it need sun or shade?
Partial shade or filtered sun. Morning sun with afternoon shade is the classic position, and dappled light under a high canopy works just as well. In hot inland gardens the leaves burn in unshaded afternoon sun. In full shade the plant survives but flowers sparsely and grows leggy.
How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?
Plant 1 to 1.2 metres apart for a formal clipped hedge, or 1.5 metres for a softer screen that keeps most of its flowering. Tip prune from the first spring after planting so the base fills out. Camellias take clipping well and hold a hedge line for decades once established.
Are the flowers any good for picking?
Camellias have very little water conducting capacity in the cut stem, so blooms wilt quickly in a vase. The usual approach is to float individual flowers in a shallow bowl of water, where they hold for two or three days. Short sprigs with foliage also work in low arrangements.
How do I care for Spanish Dancer Camellia?
Water deeply and regularly over summer while flower buds are forming, mulch to 75 mm and keep it clear of the trunk, and feed after flowering with a camellia and azalea fertiliser. Prune to shape at the same time. Yellowing leaves usually mean alkaline soil or poor drainage.
