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.
- SKU:
- EVS-CAM-RLW-LGL
Container Sizes
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.
4.5" Pot
Also Known As:
4.5" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.5"H x 3.75"W
Volume:
1.42 quarts
Quart Pot
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
2.5 Quart
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
#1 Pot
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
#2 Pot
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
#3 Pot
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
For more detailed information, please click here.
Plant Addicts Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts always guarantees your plant(s) will arrive happy & healthy. However, plant(s) are being shipped through the mail & sometimes accidents happen. If the plant is dead, has dried out roots or the incorrect item was shipped, just notify Plant Addicts within 3 days upon delivery. We may ask for pictures but will try to make it as easy as possible for you. Please note, plant(s) with damaged branches or wilted leaves will not qualify for this guarantee. Plants are very resilient and will rebound quickly when cared for correctly.
For more information on how to care for your new plants, please click on our guide below.
Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
We encourage all plant lovers to purchase the Plant Addicts Warranty, whether you're a new gardener or an expert. There are many variables outside of anyone's control that can cause a plant to die. Hungry animals, drought, poor soil conditions, over watering, diseases & pests are all good examples of what can cause plants to die. The Plant Addicts Warranty is a 1 year warranty protecting you from all of the unknowns and will replace your plant if something were to happen to it.
The warranty is purchased on a per plant basis and must be purchased at the same time as the plant(s). We will cover 100% of the price of the plant, but the warranty does not cover shipping costs. SImply let us know if your plant has died within 1 year of receiving it and we will get you a new one shipped out as soon as possible (depending on the time of the year and availability). We may ask for photos for documentation purposes, but we try to make the process as easy as possible.
For more information, please click on our page below.
Plant Shipping
Below are some factors we consider when determining when to ship the plants depending on the timing of the order.
Winter to Early Spring
We ship only when it's warm enough to plant in your growing zone.
Sometimes plants aren't completely ready to sell and ship in early spring. We will wait until the plants are ready before shipping so you don't get a subpar product.
For Southern plants we will be able to ship much earlier than plants coming from our northern nursery.
Summer
If there is extreme heat we may delay shipping for a week or several weeks.
We review what areas the plants are traveling through as well as your location.
Fall into Winter
We’ll ship plants out all the way up to the end of the fall planting season!
Winter
Get your order in early to reserve your plants for Spring planting!
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an automated email with tracking information.
Click here for more detailed shipping information.
Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations