Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
LA Peppermint Camellia is the camellia for gardeners who enjoy a little surprise in winter bloom season. Camellia japonica 'LA Peppermint' produces double 3- to 4-inch flowers that may be white or soft pink with red streaks, solid red, or split into red-and-white sections on the same plant. The glossy dark green evergreen foliage gives the changing flowers a clean backdrop from late winter into spring. Our landscape designers recommend placing it near a front walk or patio door, where each new flower can be noticed up close.
This heirloom japonica camellia dates back to early American garden introductions and has remained popular because its bloom pattern keeps changing with age. It grows as an upright, densely branched shrub that can reach about 8 to 10 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide. Use it as a shaded specimen, loose hedge, espalier against a wall, or large container plant in Zones 7-9. The flowers are excellent for cutting, and a single bloom floated in water shows off the striping better than a crowded arrangement.
LA Peppermint Camellia Care
Plant LA Peppermint Camellia in morning sun with afternoon shade, part shade, or all-day filtered sun. It prefers fertile, humus-rich loam with steady drainage, though amended clay, sand, or silt can work when moisture and drainage are balanced. Keep soil acidic, ideally around 5.0 to 6.5 pH.
Water deeply after planting, then let the upper inch or two of soil begin to dry before watering again. Established plants tolerate shorter dry periods, but flower buds and new leaves look best with even moisture during heat and bloom development. Feed from late winter or early spring through midsummer with a slow-release fertilizer for acid-loving plants.
Prune after flowering, before summer bud set begins. Thin crossing branches, remove weak interior twigs, or lift lower limbs if you want to train the shrub into a small evergreen tree. Container plants need a well-drained acidic potting mix and winter root protection where pots may freeze for more than a brief overnight period.
LA Peppermint Camellia Spacing
Space LA Peppermint Camellia about 5 feet apart for a full hedge, or 10 feet or more apart when giving each shrub room to show its rounded form. Use a container at least 24 inches wide with drainage holes, then move up as the root ball fills the pot.
In shaded acidic beds, pair this camellia with pieris shrubs, hellebore, fothergilla, and barrenwort for layered foliage and staggered bloom. For container companions, use primrose or dead nettle around the base where filtered light and regular moisture suit the planting.
LA Peppermint Camellia Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 7 to 9 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Part Sun to Full Sun (5+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 8-10 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 6-8 Feet
- Growth Rate
- Slow
- Growth Habit
- , Upright, Mounded
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , White, Red, Pink
- Bloom Time
- Fall
- Blooms On
-
Old Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Right after flowering
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Dark Green
- Foliage Type
- , Evergreen
- Seasonal Interest
- , Winter Interest, Spring Flowering
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- LA Peppermint Camellia
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AZ, OR, AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!