Bessie Battle Camellia Japonica
Camellia japonica ‘Bessie Battle’
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 7a-9b Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Shrub
Species: Japonica (Winter, Spring blooming)
Height at Maturity: 12′
Width at Maturity: 7-8′ depending on pruning
Spacing: 5 to 6′ apart for solid hedge; 12′ or more apart for space between plants
Spacing: 5 to 6′ apart for solid hedge; 12′ or more apart for space between plants
Flower Color: White,
Flower Size: Large, 4″
Flowering Period: Late Winter, Early Spring
Flower Type: Semi-Double
Fragrant Flowers: No
Foliage Color: Dark Green
Fragrant Foliage: No
Berries: No
Berry Color: NA
Sun Needs: Morning Sun with Afternoon Shade or Filtered Sun, All Day Filtered Sun
Water Needs: Average, Lower when established
Soil Type: Clay (amended), Loam, Sand (amended), Silt
Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist
Soil pH: 5.0 – 6.5 (Acid)
Maintenance / Care: Low
Resistances: Deer – more info, Drought (when established), Heat, Humidity
Intolerances: Direct Afternoon Sun, Constantly Soggy Soil
Attracts: Visual Attention
Description
A very rare, hard to find, true garden jewel, the Bessie Battle Camellia produces an abundance of lovely, large, ruffled white flowers with a patch of prominent bright yellow stamens at the center. The flowers appear in late winter lasting through early spring. The deep green evergreen leaves make the perfect backdrop for the bright flowers.
Landscape & Garden Uses
Growing 10 to 12 feet tall and 7 to 8 feet wide, Bessie Battle Camellia can be grown as a shrub or small tree. As a shrub it is ideal for use as a specimen, in groupings, or as a hedge or background plant in landscape borders and is especially nice as a corner plant or espalier (trained to grow flat against a wall) in home foundation plantings. As this camellia grows lower branches can be removed to form a small evergreen tree that serves as an attractive and colorful focal point specimen in landscape borders and home foundation plantings. A fine addition to white theme gardens, camellia gardens, Asian gardens, cottage gardens, and in woodland gardens and borders. Also suitable for containers that can be brought indoors during winter by those who live and garden above USDA Zone 7a, where this camellia variety is not reliably winter hardy. Find Your Zone
Suggested Spacing: 5 to 6 feet apart for solid hedge; 12 feet or more apart for space between plants
Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a, where this Camellia variety is not reliably winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.
Growing Preferences
Camellia adapt well to various soil types however prefer a moist but well-drained acidic soil that is rich in organic matter. Constantly soggy soil is a slow killer. In general, Camellia grows and blooms better in partial shade with some shelter from the hot afternoon sun. Morning sun with afternoon shade or filtered sunlight is perfect. All-day filtered sun is fine.
Helpful Articles
Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant, fertilize, prune and water Camellias.
Planting Camellias
Pruning Camellias
How To Fertilize & Water Camellias
How To Espalier Plants & Trees
*Espalier (pronounced: ih-spal-yay) …an ornamental shrub or tree that has been trained to grow flat against a wall, fence, or other vertical, flat surface.
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Every plant from WilsonBros arrives on the date requested, packaged perfectly for total protection, and has been healthy and exactly as described. WilsonBros is my go to company. No need to look elsewhere.—————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

















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