Zone 9B Florida: This is my on-going plant documentary for the two following camellias that I fell in love with:

1. Camellia ‘High Fragrance #3’ japonica

2. Camellia ‘Lillian Gordy’ japonica

Camellia ‘High Fragrance #3’ japonica

I purchase the High Fragrance camellia from Lukas Nursery in Oviedo, Florida for $34.99 in January 2023. This variety blooms from October to April with baby pink rose like flowers. It’s mature height is 4 to 8 feet tall. It likes part sun to shade. It’s “tough and hardy”.

I repotted the three-gallon High Fragrance into a 15-gallon plastic pot. I used a layering method for the potting. Starting from the bottom to the top layer:

1. About two inches of potting mix #2
2. Fruit and veggie scraps and a quart bag of frozen mackerel
3. About 3 inches of potting mix #2 plus one scoop of coarse sand or all purpose sand
4. Place the camellia with the root ball and soil in the center of the pot.
5. Layer the spaces around the root ball with a mix of mini pine bark and fine pine mulch and a layer of potting mix #2 until I reach the top leveled with the base of the root ball.
6. Mix in with half a cup of fertilizer

I try to water this potted camellia two times three times a week. The pot is located in a mostly shaded side of my house.
Note: Is this the best or proper way to pot a camellia? Heck, I don’t know. I just know they like acidic soil and I just know I always put some veggie, fruit, and fish scraps at the bottom of all my 15 gallons and up. 😂 So far, all my potted plants are happy except the pots that didn’t have food scraps buried below.

Camellia ‘Lillian Gordy’ japonica

I purchased camellia Lillian Gordy from South Seminole Farm and Nursery in Casselberry, Florida for $40 in January 2023For camellia Lillian Gordy, I planted her in my front landscape about six feet from the wall.

…to be continued with more pictures

Do you have a favorite camellia growing in your garden? What variety is it? Comment to share a picture of your camellia.