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Yuletide Camellia

Q: When does Yuletide Camellia bloom?

Yuletide Camellia is famous for its holiday-season display of bright red flowers with golden stamens, typically blooming from late fall through early winter. Depending on your region, blossoms often appear from November through January, providing brilliant garden color during the festive months when most plants are dormant. This winter-blooming evergreen shrub is one of the most reliable camellias for seasonal interest, making it a top choice for gardeners who want holiday flowers, evergreen foliage, and low-maintenance structure in their landscape year-round.

Q: Can Yuletide Camellia grow in full sun or shade?

Yuletide Camellia performs best in partial shade or dappled sunlight, where it receives morning sun and protection from the intense afternoon heat. In cooler climates, it can tolerate more direct sun, while in warmer regions, it thrives with some afternoon shade to prevent stress and leaf scorch. This adaptability makes Yuletide Camellia a great fit for foundation plantings, woodland edges, and shade gardens, giving homeowners flexibility when planning their evergreen landscape designs.

Q: Is Yuletide Camellia deer-resistant?

Yes, Yuletide Camellia is generally considered deer-resistant. Its tough, leathery evergreen leaves are not appealing to deer, making it a dependable shrub in landscapes where deer browsing is a challenge. While no plant is completely deer-proof, Yuletide Camellia typically avoids major damage, allowing it to maintain its dense green structure and festive winter blooms. For gardeners in suburban or rural settings, this quality makes Yuletide Camellia a low-maintenance, long-term investment, combining seasonal color, evergreen structure, and resistance to common landscape pests.

Q: Can Yuletide Camellia be grown in containers?

Yes—Yuletide Camellia thrives in large decorative containers, making it a perfect choice for patios, entryways, and porches. Its compact upright shape and seasonal flowers bring festive holiday cheer when planted in urns or pots. Container planting also allows gardeners in colder zones to move plants to sheltered areas during harsh winters. Use a well-draining, acidic soil mix and be sure to water regularly, as container-grown camellias dry out faster than those planted in the ground. With proper care, a potted Yuletide Camellia can be enjoyed up close for years, serving as a centerpiece for both holiday décor and year-round evergreen color.

Q: How tall and wide does Yuletide Camellia grow?

Yuletide Camellia typically grows to 6–10 feet tall and 6–8 feet wide, forming a dense, upright shrub. Its pyramidal growth habit makes it well-suited for hedges, screens, or foundation plantings, while its evergreen leaves provide structure even when it’s not in bloom. This moderate size also makes Yuletide Camellia a good choice for small gardens or container landscapes. With its compact shape, festive winter flowers, and reliable evergreen foliage, Yuletide is one of the most versatile camellias for both formal and informal landscapes.

Camellia sasanqua 'Yuletide'

“The Yuletide Camellia is one of my absolute favorites because it brings a burst of red holiday blooms right when the garden needs it most. Its evergreen foliage, cold-hardiness, and natural deer resistance make it dependable, while its versatility in containers or as hedging makes it perfect for almost any garden. If you want a shrub that delivers four-season structure and festive winter color, you can’t go wrong with Yuletide Camellia.”

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Yuletide Camellia – Festive Red Winter-Blooming Evergreen Shrub

A holiday favorite with festive red blooms.
The Yuletide Camellia (Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’) is a winter-blooming evergreen shrub celebrated for its brilliant red flowers with golden centers that appear right around the holidays. Few plants provide such a striking burst of seasonal color when most of the garden is bare. With its compact form and elegant flowers, Yuletide Camellia is the perfect choice for adding cheer to your landscape during the cooler months.

Evergreen structure for year-round appeal.
Beyond its festive flowers, this cold-hardy camellia delivers glossy, dark green foliage that stays vibrant year-round. Growing to about 6–10 feet tall and 6–8 feet wide, it naturally forms a dense, upright shrub ideal for foundation plantings, evergreen hedges, and privacy screens. Its shade tolerance also makes it a favorite for planting beneath tall trees or along north-facing walls.

Versatile in the landscape or containers.
Yuletide Camellia thrives equally well in the ground or in decorative patio containers, where it can be enjoyed up close throughout the holiday season. In larger landscapes, plant several in a row for a festive evergreen hedge or mix with other sasanqua camellias to extend your blooming season. Its deer resistance and low-maintenance care make it an easy, reliable shrub for both formal and casual garden styles.

Cold-hardy and dependable.
Hardy in USDA Zones 7–10, Yuletide Camellia is well-suited for southern and mid-Atlantic landscapes. It tolerates both heat and cold, provided it has well-drained, slightly acidic soil. With minimal care requirements and its unique ability to bloom in late fall through winter, this camellia adds a touch of holiday magic and timeless beauty to any garden year after year.

Growzone: 7-10

Hardiness Zone:	7-10
Mature Height:	8-10 feet
Mature Width:	6-8 feet
Classification:	Broad Leaved evergreen shrub, fall flowering
Sunlight:	Part Sun to Part Shade
Habit:	Evergreen, densely branched
Flower Color:	Brilliant red, single flowers
Foliage:	Dark green
Soil Condition:	Any well drained soil
Water Requirements:	Water well until established
Uses:	Extremely attractive when used as a focal point in the mixed border, mass planting, or a specimen planting. Provides unmatched winter interest due to its flowering in the early winter

How to Care for Yuletide Camellia

Be sure to read our planting instructions to ensure a healthy and happy Camellia Yuletide for years to come!

How do I plant a Yuletide Camellia for best growth?

Choose a location with partial shade to filtered sun and well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Place the plant so the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil. Backfill halfway, water thoroughly, then finish filling and water again. Apply a 2–3 inch mulch layer around the base to help retain moisture and keep roots cool. Avoid heavy clay soils or areas with poor drainage, as camellias prefer evenly moist but not soggy soil conditions.

How often should I water a Yuletide Camellia?

During the first growing season, water deeply once or twice per week to help establish strong roots. Be sure to allow the soil surface to dry slightly between waterings, as camellias dislike consistently soggy conditions. Once established, Yuletide Camellia is moderately drought-tolerant but performs best with supplemental water during prolonged dry spells. Consistent moisture will help encourage abundant holiday blooms and healthy evergreen foliage.

How Do I Fertilize A Yuletide Camellia?

Feed your Yuletide Camellia in early spring after flowering with a slow-release fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants like camellias, azaleas, or hollies. Apply evenly around the drip line and water well to help nutrients reach the roots. Avoid heavy fertilizing in late summer or fall, as this can stimulate tender growth that may be damaged by cold weather. A light spring feeding is usually enough to support strong growth and vibrant red winter flowers.

Does Yuletide Camellia need pruning to maintain its shape?

Yuletide Camellia naturally maintains a dense, upright form and usually requires little pruning. If shaping is needed, prune immediately after the flowering season in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Remove any dead or crossing branches to improve airflow, and lightly trim for size control. Avoid cutting in fall, as you risk removing flower buds that produce the holiday blooms.