Camellia sasanqua Balls

$2,100.00

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Size: 500L

500L

Current Stock Height Guides

500L: Enquire within for height guide information.

Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you mustconfirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 1.5m to 2m

Mature Width: 1m to 1.5m

Camellia sasanqua Balls is expected to grow 30cm to 60cm per year (moderate).

Root Ball Dimensions

Use this as a reference when digging your planting hole. We recommend digging at least 10% wider than the dimensions below to encourage strong root development.

30cm Pot: 33cm (W) × 30cm (D)
40cm/45L Pot: 44cm (W) × 41.5cm (D)
50cm Pot / 70L Pot: 55cm (W) × 41.8cm (D)
100L Bag: 50.6cm (W) × 52.8cm (D)
150L Bag: 66cm (W) × 55cm (D)
200L Bag: 71.5cm (W) × 60.5cm (D)
300L Bag: 88cm (W) × 63.8cm (D)
400L Bag: 99cm (W) × 66cm (D)
500L Bag: 122cm (W) × 66cm (D)
750L Bag: 134cm (W) × 69cm (D)
1000L Bag: 146.3cm (W) × 71.5cm (D)
2000L Bag: 176cm (W) × 82.5cm (D)

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Email: sales@evergreentrees.com.au

Phone: (03) 7042 3318

About Your New Camellia sasanqua Balls

Camellia hiemalis 'Hiryu', sold and grown within the sasanqua camellia group, is an evergreen shrub shaped here into a large clipped ball. Deep pink semi-double flowers with a gold centre open from autumn into winter against small glossy dark green leaves. The dense twiggy growth is what lets the sphere be held so cleanly.

Part shade through to full sun both work, in soil that drains freely and carries some organic matter. Growth is moderate at 30 to 60 centimetres a year, enough to recover after clipping without losing the outline. Established plants cope with dry spells and with light to moderate frost, across warm temperate and cool temperate districts.

At 500 litres these are specimen scale. They anchor a formal courtyard, sit either side of a gate, punctuate a long bed or form a low clipped mass in a commercial forecourt. One ball in a wide pot carries a small paved area on its own. For a project on a deadline, the finished scale is the main advantage.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Camellia Sasanqua Ball

What is a Camellia sasanqua ball?

It is a sasanqua type camellia, in this case the cultivar 'Hiryu', grown and clipped over several years into a dense spherical form. The plant is evergreen, flowers deep pink through autumn and winter, and holds its shape with light trimming. Nurseries grow these to size because the geometry cannot be rushed once a plant is in the ground.

How big is a 500 litre Camellia ball?

The clipped head measures roughly 1.2 to 1.5 metres across, with overall height around 1.5 to 1.8 metres including the base and rootball. That size is maintained by trimming. The container itself is substantial, so allow for machinery or several people when moving and positioning the plant on site.

How fast does it grow?

Moderately, at about 30 to 60 centimetres of extension a year in good conditions. On a clipped ball that translates to two or three trims a season to hold a crisp outline. Slower growth in the first year after planting is normal while the root system moves out into the surrounding soil.

Where does it grow best in Australia?

Cool temperate and warm temperate regions suit it best, so most of Victoria, Tasmania, the ACT, coastal and inland New South Wales, south east Queensland, Adelaide and the cooler parts of Western Australia. It dislikes prolonged tropical humidity and struggles in hot arid inland conditions without irrigation and shelter from drying wind.

Is it drought tolerant?

Once established it holds up well through dry periods, better than japonica camellias do. Sasanqua types have finer, harder foliage and a more efficient root system. That said, a clipped ball carries a lot of leaf on a confined root area, so deep soaking every week or two through a hot summer keeps the surface dense.

Can it grow in a pot?

Yes. A ball of this size needs a generous container, at least 60 to 80 centimetres wide and deep, with free draining potting mix and reliable drainage. Smaller specimens sit happily in a 40 to 50 centimetre pot. Container plants need more frequent watering and an annual top dress of slow release camellia fertiliser.

How do I care for a Camellia ball?

Water deeply and regularly through the first two summers, then as needed. Mulch to a depth of 75 millimetres, kept off the stem. Feed with a camellia or azalea fertiliser after flowering finishes in late winter. Trim lightly and often to keep the sphere, always cutting new growth rather than cutting back into bare wood.

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

Enriched Planting Mix is a certified organic blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent, bagged in 30L. It is built to be dug through existing garden soil at planting time rather than used on its own, and the gypsum is what sets it apart from a plain compost.

Gypsum helps break up heavy clay so water and roots can move through it, while the compost and manure return organic matter and nutrient to tired ground. The coarse bark holds structure and keeps air around the root zone, and the wetting agent keeps moisture in the soil longer after rain or watering.

Use it when planting trees, shrubs, roses, fruit trees and exotic garden plants, particularly into clay. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and 7 centimetres deeper, then mix roughly one third planting mix through the excavated soil. Spread 7 centimetres of that improved soil in the base before setting the plant in.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Enriched Planting Mix

What is Enriched Planting Mix made from?

It is a blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent. Each part has a job. The compost and manure supply organic matter and nutrient, the gypsum works on clay structure, the bark keeps air around the roots and the wetting agent holds moisture in the soil.

What plants is it suitable for?

It suits exotic garden plants, including roses, ornamental and deciduous trees, fruit trees, shrubs and perennials, and it earns its keep most on heavy clay sites. It is a planting mix rather than a potting mix, so its job is improving soil at planting time. Phosphorus sensitive natives are the one clear exception.

Is it safe for natives?

No, not for the phosphorus sensitive ones. The composted animal manure in this blend lifts phosphorus well above what Proteaceae such as Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea and Protea will tolerate, and the result can be leaf burn, dieback and plant death. Use the Native Potting Mix for those species, or plant them into unimproved local soil.

Is it certified organic?

Yes. It is a certified organic product with no chemical additives, which is why the manure and compost in it are fully composted rather than raw. That makes it sound around fruit trees and vegetable beds, and it means you are adding genuine organic matter to your soil rather than a synthetic conditioner.

How much do I need?

Work on roughly one third planting mix to two thirds of the soil you dug out of the hole. For a shrub out of a 200 millimetre pot that is only a few litres. An advanced tree going into a large hole will take considerably more. Judge the quantity by the volume of the hole rather than the size of the plant.

Can I use it in pots?

It is not a potting mix and should not be used on its own in a container. The blend is designed to be diluted through garden soil, and used straight in a pot it holds too much water and settles badly. For containers, reach for a premium potting mix, or the native mix if you are potting natives.

Does it need to be watered in?

Yes. Water the plant well several hours before you plant it, then water thoroughly again once the hole is backfilled and the soil firmed down. That first deep watering settles the improved soil around the root ball and drives out air pockets. Keep the water up over the first few months while the roots establish.

View full details

Type: Garden Supplies

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

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Uses in my Garden

Feature Tree

Camellia sasanqua Balls works in an:

Cottage Garden – romantic mix of flowers, colour, and texture.
Japanese Inspired – serene balance of form, foliage, and flow.
Formal Garden – structured, symmetrical design with clipped shapes.
Low-maintenance Garden – resilient choices for easy care and year-round appeal.

Is Camellia sasanqua Balls Evergreen or Deciduous?

Camellia sasanqua Balls is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 1.5m to 2m

Mature Width: 1m to 1.5m

Camellia sasanqua Balls is expected to grow 30cm to 60cm per year (moderate).

Growth Rate of Camellia sasanqua Balls

Camellia sasanqua Balls is expected to grow 30cm to 60cm per year (moderate).

They are considered to have a:

Medium Growth Rate

Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Camellia sasanqua Balls

Is Camellia sasanqua Balls frost tolerant?

Camellia sasanqua Balls is Frost Tolerant – Can handle light to moderate frost once established.

Does Camellia sasanqua Balls Flower?

Camellia sasanqua topiary balls produce masses of soft white, blush pink or rosy single to semi-double flowers from autumn through early winter, depending on the cultivar. These delicate blooms sit beautifully against the neatly clipped evergreen foliage, adding a refined seasonal highlight to their sculpted form.

Does Camellia sasanqua Balls flower?

Yes - Flowers

Flowering Period:

Autumn
Winter

Flower Type:

Semi-double
Fragrant

Flower Colour:

Pink

Is Camellia sasanqua Balls an Australian Native Tree?

No

Camellia sasanqua Balls is Native to Eastern Asia, particularly Japan and China, where camellias grow naturally in woodland margins and forest edges.

What is the Wildlife Value of Camellia sasanqua Balls ?

Their long autumn–winter flowering supports cool-season pollinators including native bees and hoverflies, while the dense evergreen structure provides excellent shelter for small birds. The compact topiary shape also enhances micro-habitats within formal and structured garden settings.

How much Sunlight does Camellia sasanqua Balls need?

Camellia sasanqua Balls will thrive best in:

Full Sun
Part Shade

Preferred Soil?

Camellia sasanqua topiary balls perform best in well-drained loam or sandy loam soils and prefer slightly acidic conditions. They may struggle in alkaline or poorly drained soils unless improved with organic matter to enhance structure and moisture regulation. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then transition to deep, occasional watering as they mature to support healthy evergreen growth and consistent flowering while maintaining their tidy clipped form.

Is Camellia sasanqua Balls Drought Tolerant?

Is Camellia sasanqua Balls Drought tolerant?

As young plants they require regular watering, but once established Camellia sasanquas develop moderate drought tolerance. They perform best with deep, occasional watering during extended dry periods and benefit from protection from hot winds to maintain flower quality and dense, healthy foliage in topiary form.

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How To Plant Your Camellia sasanqua Balls

Site: Choose a well-drained position in full sun to part shade with room for the canopy to develop.

Soil preparation: Enrich the planting area with quality compost and aged manure for a strong establishment phase.

Hole: Dig twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth.

Planting: Position level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, firm in, then water deeply to settle the roots.

Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Camellia sasanqua Balls

Hedging and screening: 1 to 1.5 metres apart for a dense informal screen, or 80 centimetres apart for a tighter formal hedge.

Feature tree: 3 to 4 metres apart to allow the full canopy and form to develop.

Pot or container: A 40 to 50 centimetre wide pot suits a single specimen for courtyards, entries and balconies.

Camellia sasanqua Balls is expected to grow 30cm to 60cm per year (moderate).

Medium Growth Rate

Long Term Care For Your Camellia sasanqua Balls

Watering: Water deeply twice weekly through the first 12 months. Once established, keep the root zone consistently moist with weekly deep watering and additional water during hot dry spells.

Mulching: Apply a 3 to 5 centimetre layer of organic mulch over the root zone in the garden, or a thin layer of decorative pebbles in pots, keeping it clear of the trunk.

Pruning: Tip prune in late winter and again in summer to build dense growth. For a formal hedge, light shaping two to three times a year keeps lines crisp.

Fertilising: Apply a slow-release general-purpose fertiliser in early spring and again in autumn for steady growth and consistent foliage colour.

Pest and disease: Hardy against most pests and diseases. Occasional inspection for scale or sooty mould in warm humid conditions is all that's needed.

Planting Your Camellia sasanqua Balls in Different Soil

Camellia Sasanqua Balls performs best in rich, well-drained loam with a slightly acidic pH and consistent moisture. Adaptable to a wide range of soils when drainage and organic matter are managed well.

Sandy soil: Free-draining but enrich heavily with compost and mulch deeply to hold moisture.

Clay soil: Improve drainage with gypsum and organic compost, and mound slightly to lift the root zone.

Loam: The preferred soil for steady root development and consistent flowering.

pH: Slightly acidic preferred. Mulch with composted leaf litter or pine bark to maintain levels naturally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will Camellia sasanqua ‘Hiryu’ tolerate pots?
A: Yes, it’s well-suited to pot culture. Use a quality camellia or azalea potting mix and keep well-watered in dry periods.

Q: Does it need regular pruning?
A: Only light shaping to maintain the ball form. Trim after flowering ends in early winter.

Q: Does it flower well in part shade?
A: Yes — Camellia sasanqua flowers reliably in part sun and dappled shade, although flowering is slightly reduced in deeper shade.

Q: Are the flowers scented?
A: The semi-double blooms are mildly fragrant, especially noticeable in calm, humid conditions.