Camellia and Aza

Hello! I have a camellia sasanqua and azalea ready to be planted out. I’m aware of all their preferred conditions (soil, mulching and feeding etc). But my garden is literally split into full shade and full sun. Does it matter what they get if everything else is fine?

 

Hello JK, welcome to Gardeners Corner A lot depends on whereabouts in the UK your garden is. How hot is the 'full sun' in your area? Camellia sasanqua can take more sun than the williamsii hybrids, but in general, none of them like early morning sun, especially on frosty mornings. IIRC, the evergreen azaleas can take more sun than the deciduous types, which prefer dappled shade.

 

Thank you and thanks again for the reply! I’m in the Midlands. What would you suggest? One side gets 90% of sun and the other is in full shade most of the day so it’s really difficult. Shall I split them both? Camellia in the shade after your comment about the morning sun and the Azalea on the other side?

 

It's a dilemma! I'd say (cautiously ) that you could create some shade in the sunny part of the garden, perhaps with a small tree or large shrub pruned as a parasol, but you can't create sun in the shady part. I honestly don't know whether being in full shade would affect the flowering of the Camellia...Perhaps other members who grow these shrubs could chip in with their experiences?

 

Well, it is a dilemma all right; it is something that depends on how strong the sun is and how deep the shade is. Azaleas and camellias normally appreciate some sun in order to produce more flower buds. But azaleas prefer dappled sun or morning sun only, much less sun exposure than camellia sasanquas. Sasanquas can be planted in morning sun only, full sun or dappled sun. As long as you provide 5-10 cms of mulch all year around and maintain the soil as evenly moist as you can, sasanquas should perform well for you in your full sun.

Too much sun is relative and usually depends on how strong the sun is where one lives. I sometimes take a drive during blooming season to see if I can locate a new plant in a neighbor's garden. That gives me an idea of what works near me. In my area, I have seen for more than 10 years now, camellia sasanquas planted outside in very large planters in front of a restaurant. They get full sun, are well watered and withstand my very hot and cold temperatures.

If you really have dense shade, that may inhibit flower bud production and produce leggy plants. For example, azaleas, where I live, require dappled sun or morning sun and afternoon/evening shade. The summer sun is too strong but, having said that, I have also seen them growing in full sun in areas many hours north of me, areas where the summer sun is not as strong as mine. So it is hard trying to tell if the planned locations will work or not. That is the dilemma.

For sure, only by trying could you tell if your level of shade and sun will work. So, I would suggest growing them in containers at first for 1-2 years and moving the containers around if you have issues with any one location. While potted, consider temporarily bringing them into a winter protected location if your temps get very cold outside during the winter months. Some terra cotta pots can crack if it gets too cold.

Ironically, a bit "more shade" can sometimes be good for azaleas... it may attract more beneficial insects, which might minimize infestations by pests like azalea lace bugs.

So, camellia sasanquas can "do" full sun but the other types do not. Sasanquas have small leaves that can handle full sun exposure for months during the summer months, even with temps above 37C/100F. With camellia japonicas, sinensis, reticulatas or hybrids, I would stick to shade starting at 10am or so. You can sometimes "create" the proper shade in full sun by using other taller plants, using shade cloth and garden "objects" and-or by raising the canopy of trees. I have one camellia japonica "protected" from too much sun by a Japanese Maple for example.

Try growing them in pots for a while until you find a good spot. Feel free to move the pots around and to tweak things to improve/reduce sunlight.