- Mature height
- 2m to 4m including standard height
- Mature width
- 1.5m to 2.5m canopy spread
Camellia sasanqua ‘Pure Silk’ Standards are sasanqua camellias trained onto a single clear stem with a rounded head of growth. The foliage is small, glossy and evergreen, and the semi-double flowers open white with a soft pink flush and a centre of gold stamens through autumn and winter.
They prefer morning sun and shelter from hot afternoon exposure, in free-draining acidic soil kept moist but never wet. Growth adds roughly 20 to 50 centimetres a year, which keeps the head manageable. Light to moderate frost is tolerated once established. Wind is the main risk, since the stem is slender.
Standards earn their keep either side of a doorway, along a path, or in matched pots on a terrace. They lift flower and foliage to eye level and leave the ground below free for underplanting. For anyone after formality without a large footprint, they are an efficient way to get it.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Pure Silk Standard Camellia
What is a standard camellia?
A standard is a camellia grafted or trained onto a single upright stem with a clipped ball of growth on top. ‘Pure Silk’ is a sasanqua cultivar with glossy leaves and white flowers flushed pink. The bare stem gives a formal outline that suits entrances, avenue planting and pots.
How tall do Pure Silk Standards grow?
Overall height sits around 1.8 to 2.2 metres, made up of a clear stem of roughly 1 to 1.2 metres with a rounded head above it. The head is usually kept at 1 to 1.5 metres across by clipping. The stem does not lengthen, so the mature height is largely set at purchase.
Can it grow in a pot?
Yes, standards do well in containers and this is one of the most common ways they are used. Choose a pot at least 50 centimetres across with good drainage, use a quality mix suited to acid loving plants, and stake the stem until it thickens. Potted plants need watering more often and a slow release feed each spring.
Does it need sun or shade?
Morning sun with afternoon shade gives the best flowering and the healthiest leaf colour. Sasanquas take more sun than japonicas, so full sun is workable in cool and temperate districts if the roots stay moist. Deep shade produces sparse flowering and a thin, open head.
When do the flowers appear?
Buds open through autumn and winter, roughly March to July. Flowering starts earlier in warm temperate and subtropical gardens and runs later in cool districts. Sasanqua petals drop cleanly rather than browning on the bush, which matters when a standard is sitting over paving or a pot display.
Is it frost tolerant?
Established plants handle light to moderate frost. The graft union and the young head are the parts to watch in the first couple of winters, so mulch the root zone and avoid feeding late in autumn, which pushes soft growth into the cold. Severe or prolonged frost is better avoided.
How do I prune and care for a camellia standard?
Clip the head lightly after flowering to keep it round and dense, taking no more than a third of the season's growth. Remove any shoots appearing on the stem or below the graft as soon as you see them. Water deeply in summer, mulch clear of the trunk, and feed once flowering finishes.
