Warm Hearted™ Ruby Camellia

Light Needs

Partial Shade

(3 - 4 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

6-8 Feet

Mature Spread

4-6 Feet

Growing Zones

7 to 9

Warm Hearted™ Ruby Camellia earns its place with an exceptionally long bloom season that carries rich color from fall well into spring. It matures at 14–16 feet tall and 8–10 feet wide, forming a substantial evergreen presence that performs like a small flowering tree. While many camellias peak for a few short weeks, this selection keeps producing densely double, pinkish-red blooms for months. The Warm Hearted™ series is known for flower count and stamina, and this ruby form is among the most reliable we’ve grown. 

Glossy, deep green foliage holds its color year-round and provides structure even when not in bloom. Bred by John Davy of Panhandle Growers in Florida, Camellia x sasanqua 'JDCXLL0501' was selected for strong branching, heavy bud set, and improved cold tolerance within the sasanqua group. The upright habit makes it useful as a flowering screen, property divider, or specimen near an entry where late-season blooms can be appreciated up close. It handles heat and humidity once established and is generally avoided by deer. Pollinators benefit from the extended bloom window when little else is available.

Warm Hearted™ Ruby Camellia Care

Plant in part sun, ideally with morning light and protection from intense late-afternoon sun in warmer zones. Choose soil that drains well yet stays evenly damp, with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5 for best foliage color and bud development. Work in organic matter at planting time and set the root ball slightly above surrounding grade to prevent settling. Water deeply after planting, then maintain steady moisture, allowing the surface to dry slightly between soakings but never letting the root zone become dusty dry. Feed in early spring with a fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants to support foliage and next season’s buds.

Pruning is minimal. Shape lightly after the main bloom cycle finishes, since flower buds form on older wood. Remove crossing branches to maintain airflow and thin selectively if training into a small tree form. A 2–3 inch mulch layer helps moderate soil temperature and conserve moisture, especially in the first few seasons.

Warm Hearted™ Ruby Camellia Spacing

Allow 8 feet between plants when creating a hedge or screen so mature canopies can develop fully without crowding. For container growing, begin with at least a 20-inch diameter pot with excellent drainage and plan to upsize as the plant grows. In landscape designs, pair it with hellebore for winter contrast, ferns for soft texture beneath the canopy, or hydrangeas for a layered flowering display in mixed shrub borders.

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