Winter’s Toughie Camellia
Camellia hybrid ‘Winter’s Toughie’
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6a-9b (10a?) Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Shrub
Species: Camellia Hybrid
Height at Maturity: 3-5′ depending on pruning
Width at Maturity: 3-5′ depending on pruning
Spacing: 3.5-4′ for solid hedges; 8’+ for space between plants
Spacing: 3.5-4′ for solid hedges; 8’+ for space between plants
Flower Color: Dark Pink centers fade to Light Pinkish-Lavender
Flower Size: 3″
Flowering Period: Late Fall into Winter
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
Attracts: Visual Attention
Resistances: Deer, Drought (when established), Heat, Humidity
Intolerances: Direct Afternoon Sun, Constantly Soggy Soil
Description
At only 5 feet tall and equally as wide at 10 years old, Winter’s Toughie is a dwarf Camellia perfectly suited for small spaces, beds and borders, patios, containers, and courtyards. Dr. Ackerman says this selection is exceptionally cold hardy (-14 F) which is probably why he named it ‘Toughie.” But the delicate, semi-double, pinkish lavender flowers with fluted and notched petals of lavender-pink are one of if not the prettiest things in our garden when in bloom, and are anything but tough! The flowers bloom profusely over a 6 week period of time during the months of October, November and December, depending on the location. The semi-glossy, deep green foliage provides a perfect backdrop for the abundance of delightful flowers which are excellent for cutting and displaying in your favorite vase.
Landscape & Garden Uses
Growing to only 5 feet tall and wide in 10 years, and kept smaller with a little annual pruning, the Winter’s Toughie Camellia is ideal for use as an accent, grouping, or hedge in home foundation plantings and landscape borders. Also perfect for use in pots, planters and other containers that can be brought indoors where this plant isn’t reliably winter hardy above USDA Zone 6b. Find Your Zone. A fine addition to winter gardens, pink theme gardens, camellia gardens, cottage gardens, cut flower gardens and woodland borders.
Suggested Spacing: 3.5 to 4 feet apart for solid hedge; 8 feet or more apart for space between plants
Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a, 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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