Leslie Ann Camellia

Light Needs

Part Shade to Part Sun

(3-6 Hours Direct Sun)

Mature Height

8-10 Feet

Mature Spread

5-7 Feet

Growing Zones

7 to 10

You can’t go wrong with a classic, and Leslie Ann is one of the best camellias for southern gardens. This beauty debuted in 1960 and has continued to win awards ever since: the Ralph Peer Camellia Sasanqua Award in 1961 and it was named a Louisiana Super Plant in 2015. The main charm of this camellia are the semi-double, 3- to 4-inch flowers, which are white edged in rose-pink. They persist on the plant from October through November and are framed by the glossy, emerald, evergreen foliage. The delicate flowers lend a heady fragrance to the garden when little else is in bloom, and even the flower buds are beautiful, hinting at the gorgeous display to come.

Camellias thrive in mild southern winters and are best planted where they receive shade from the hottest afternoon sun. Leslie Ann has an upright growth habit and its evergreen foliage makes it well suited as a foundation shrub, hedge, or for screening an unsightly view. It tolerates salt, making it useful near driveways, roads, and walkways. It is particularly lovely planted in a woodland setting, either by itself or in a mass planting as a border. It can also be grown in a large container.

Leslie Ann Camellia Care

This camellia is happiest in a location that receives 4-6 hours of morning sun and afternoon shade, or bright dappled shade for much of the day, however it will take full sun if you keep it well watered. Plant in moisture-retentive, well-draining acidic soil. It helps to add compost to the planting hole and be sure to mulch the base of the plant with 2-3 inches of mulch to cool the soil and retain moisture. Fertilize in early spring with a granular fertilizer that is formulated for broadleaf evergreens. Prune to shape in spring, but avoid cutting after May since you will be cutting off the flowers for the current year.

Leslie Ann Camellia Spacing

This is a large shrub, so consider its mature size before you plant it. You want to be sure there is adequate room all around so it can grow uninhibited—much easier for you and the plant! Under ideal conditions it can reach 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide, so be sure there is three feet of space on all sides. If you don’t like the empty space around the young plant, you can fill in with annuals or short-lived perennials until the camellia fills in. When planting more than one, you can space them a little closer, 2-2.5 feet from trunk to trunk so the mature planting appears as one plant.

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