R.L. Wheeler Camellia

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

10-12 Feet

Mature Spread

8-10 Feet

Growing Zones

7 to 9

R.L. Wheeler Camellia turns late winter into peak season. Oversized, semi-double blooms in rich pink-red glow against glossy, evergreen foliage and brighten shaded beds when little else is flowering. Upright and dependable, it anchors entries, patios, and woodland borders with ease.

Use it as a focal shrub, a clipped screen, or a statement container on the porch. The tidy habit and long flowering window make it a smart choice for designers and home gardeners who want color plus year-round structure.

R.L. Wheeler Camellia Care

Provide partial sun to bright, dappled light, ideally 3–5 hours of gentle morning sun with afternoon shade. Plant in slightly acidic, well-drained soil (pH 5.5–6.5) amended with pine bark or leaf mold; avoid waterlogged or 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 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—next year’s flower buds are set from late spring to summer. Hardy in Zones 7–9; shelter from drying winter winds. For containers, use an acid-lover potting mix in a pot with excellent drainage and protect the root zone from hard freezes.

R.L. Wheeler Camellia Spacing

For a specimen, allow 6–8 ft of space in all directions. For a hedge or screen, plant 4–5 ft on center and clip 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 it matures; place 2–3 ft from walls on an east- or north-facing exposure for bright, gentle light. Train as a small tree by selecting a central leader and lightly staking during the first 1–2 years.

Why Grow R.L. Wheeler Camellia?

• Large, semi-double pink-red blooms that light up late winter through early spring
• Glossy, evergreen foliage for four-season polish and structure
• Thrives in partial shade and slightly acidic, well-drained soils
• Prunes well after bloom for hedges, small-tree training, or tidy foundation use
• Performs beautifully in containers for porches and entryways

If your shrub is grafted, remove any shoots that emerge below the graft so it stays true to R.L. Wheeler. Check the undersides of leaves for tea scale; if you see it, apply horticultural oil in late winter or right after bloom, following label directions.

Choose R.L. Wheeler Camellia for showy late-winter color and dependable evergreen structure. It elevates bright shade with refined blooms and keeps entries and borders looking polished all year.