Purple Haze Camellia

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

4-5 Feet

Mature Spread

3-4 Feet

Growing Zones

7 to 9

Purple Haze Camellia paints the cool months in twilight tones. Fully double, rose-like blooms unfurl in rich purple-red shades that read as rare and romantic in the landscape. Deep green, polished foliage keeps borders looking finished long after the petals fall.

Use it to anchor foundations, color up bright shade borders, or star in a patio container you can enjoy up close. The long bloom window from late fall through early spring delivers steady interest when most shrubs are resting.

Purple Haze Camellia Care

Provide partial sun to bright, dappled light with 3–5 hours of gentle morning sun and afternoon protection. Plant in slightly acidic, well-drained soil (pH 5.5–6.5) amended with pine bark or leaf mold; avoid waterlogged and highly alkaline sites. Water when the top 1–2 inches of soil are dry, keeping moisture even during bud set and bloom. Mulch 2–3 inches with shredded bark or pine needles, pulling mulch a few inches back from the stem.

Feed right after flowering with a granular fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants; make a light midsummer application only if growth is slow and stop feeding 6–8 weeks before first frost. Prune immediately after bloom to shape and thin, as next year’s buds set from late spring to summer. Hardy in USDA Zones 7–9; shelter from drying winter winds. For containers, use an ericaceous potting mix in a pot with excellent drainage and protect the root zone from hard freezes. If grafted, remove any shoots that emerge below the graft. Check leaf undersides in late winter for tea scale and treat with horticultural oil if needed.

Purple Haze Camellia Spacing

For a specimen, allow 6–8 ft of space in all directions and 8–10 ft of vertical clearance. For a hedge or screen, plant 3–4 ft on center and shear lightly after bloom to knit plants together. Keep 24–36 in from walls, paths, and steps for airflow and natural spread. In containers, start with a 16–20 in diameter pot (7–10 gal) and upsize to 18–22 in (12–15 gal) as the plant matures. Place 2–3 ft from an east- or north-facing wall for bright, gentle light. To train as a small tree, select a central leader and stake lightly during the first 1–2 years.

Why Grow Purple Haze Camellia?

• Rare, purple-red double blooms that elevate the garden from late fall into early spring
• Polished, year-round foliage that provides enduring structure and curb appeal
• Low-fuss once established; thrives in bright shade and slightly acidic, free-draining soil
• Versatile habit for specimen use, hedging, or standout patio containers
• Responds well to post-bloom pruning for tidy, tailored forms

Bring home Purple Haze Camellia to extend the season with unforgettable color and dependable evergreen structure. It turns bright shade into a four-season feature with minimal effort.