Pink and white Camellia 'Lady Vansittart

Credit: Leonora Enking

White and pink Camellia 'Lady Vansittart' flowers

Credit: Leonora (Ellie) Enking

Camellia 'Lady Vansittart' red flowers

Credit: Smithsonian gardens

Camellia 'Lady Vansittart' red white pink

Credit: Acabashi

Camellia japonica 'Lady Vansittart', a camellia with unique flowers

If Dutchman Van Houten is famous for his cocoa powder, it was Belgian botanist Van Houtte who imported Camellia japonica 'Lady Vansittart' to Europe in the 1870s. With its unique flowers and holly-like foliage, this Japanese Camellia cultivar brings a touch of fantasy to the garden.

How to recognize Camellia japonica 'Lady Vansittart'?

Camellia japonica 'Lady Vansittart' is a bushy, slightly upright shrub. Smaller than camellia 'Debbie it measures 1.3 to 2.5 meters in height, with a spread of less than two meters.

The evergreen foliage consists of elliptical leaves. Coriaceous, finely toothed and sharply ser rated at the edges, they are a dark, glossy green.

The semi-double flowers bloom from March to May. Each consists of 18 to 19 petals arranged in three rows. They reveal a heart with golden-yellow stamens. Some are plain, entirely red or white, while others show a gradation of colors .Soft pink or carmine streaks and mottles stand out against a white or pale pink background.

Camellia japonica 'Lady Vansittart' is not a toxic plant. It is considered safe for pets.

Our maintenance tips

Lady Vansittart' Camellias are not difficult plants to care for. But they hate limestone. You need to provide them with acid soil and water them with rainwater.

Watering

Lady Vansittart' Camellias can withstand neither drought nor excess water.

Before watering, check the condition of the potting soil. The surface must be at least one centimeter dry.

Repotting

Get a pierced pot that's wider than it is tall. Roots tend to spread out rather than grow deep. Fill the bottom with clay balls to optimize drainage.

Lady Vansittart' Camellias grow in acid soils. Prepare a mixture containing 50% heather earth and 50% universal potting soil. Pour on a layer and plant your subject. Fill in with your substrate and press down.

Water with rainwater to expel air bubbles and encourage rooting.

Fertilization

To promote the growth of your Camellia japonica 'Lady Vansittart', apply fertilizer in spring and summer.

Fertilize with a fertilizer for acid-loving plants. You can choose a hydrangea or bougainvillea fertilizer, for example.

Prune

Remove wilted flowers that don't fall off by themselves.

You don't have to prune your lady Vansittart' Camellia. However, it may be beneficial to cut back dry twigs. You can also cut back branches by about ten centimetres after flowering to force the plant to branch out.

Always use a clean, sharp tool to promote healing and prevent disease.

Plantation

When the risk of frost has passed, it's time to plant.

Choose a shady or semi-shadylocation, away from other plantings. Indeed, lady Vansittart' Camellias have shallow roots and can't stand competition from other species. You can, however, plant several varieties side by side to form a hedge.

Soak the root ball in rainwater. Meanwhile, dig a hole twice the size of the root ball.

Lady Vansittart' Camellias require acid soil. If your soil is acidic, plant the plant and fill in with garden soil.

If your soil is chalky, sandy or basic, place a geothermal felt at the bottom of your hole. Mix equal parts heather soil and universal potting soil. Pour in a layer of substrate, then plant your shrub. Fill in with your mixture.

Mulch to keep the soil cool and protect the roots from the cold. You can use pine bark, for example, which will add acidity as it decomposes.

Water generously with recuperated rainwater to facilitate rooting.

Cutting

Take a lignified branch about fifteen centimeters long. Remove the flowers and keep only the top pair of leaves.

Prune the tip of your cutting to encourage roots to appear. Using a clean knife, bevel the end of the branch and remove about two centimetres of bark.

You can dip the tip in cutting hormone.

Obtain a perforated pot. Fill it with a mixture of potting soil, sand and heather. Make a pilot hole and plant your cutting.

Cutting is done in a smothered state. Place your cutting in a mini greenhouse or transparent box. You can also cover it with a translucent plastic bag.

Spray the leaves and substrate to maintain a moist atmosphere, and aerate for a few minutes each day.

Keep your cutting indoors, in a bright, heated room.

Diseases / Threats

Aphids

Mealybugs

Information

Family	Theaceae - Theaceae
Type	Camellia - Camellia
Species	Japanese Camellia - Camellia japonica
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposures	Half-shade Shade
Substrats	Humus soil Sandy soil
Planting methods	Open ground In pots In tubs
Categories	Shrub Flowery
Tags	Beginner Flowery Rustic Soiffarde
Origin	Southeast Asia
Hardiness (USDA)	7b
Leaf color
Flower colors