Alba Plena Camellia Japonica

Camellia japonica ‘Alba Plena’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 7a-9b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Shrub

Species: Japonica (Winter, Spring blooming)

Height at Maturity: 6-8′ depending on pruning

Width at Maturity: 6-8′ depending on pruning
Spacing: 5′ for solid hedges; 10’+ for space between plants

Flower Color: Porcelain White

Flower Size: Medium, 3-4″

Flowering Period: Mid to Late Winter, Early Spring

Flower Type: Formal Double with over 100 petals per flower!

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Medium to Dark Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: No

Berry Color: NA

Sun Needs: Morning Sun with Afternoon Shade or Filtered Sun, All Day Filtered Sun

Water Needs: Average, Lower when established

Soil Type: Clay (amended), Loam, Sand (amended), Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist

Soil pH: 5.0 – 6.5 (Acid)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer – more info, Drought (when established), Heat, Humidity

Intolerances: Direct Afternoon Sun, Constantly Soggy Soil

Description

Prized for its gorgeous, formal double flowers consisting of over 100 petals, the Alba Plena Camellia is truly remarkable! The abundant porcelain-white flowers start opening in mid to late winter and continue well in to spring. Alba Plena has an upright and bushy growth habit with handsome medium to dark green glossy leaves that serve as the perfect background for the flowers. Alba Plena was first cultivated in 1797 making it one of the oldest known Camellia in existence.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 6-8 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide depending on pruning, Alba Plena Camellia can be grown as a large shrub or small tree. As a shrub it is ideal for use as a specimen, in groupings, or as a hedge or background plant in landscape borders and is especially nice as a corner plant or espalier (trained to grow flat against a wall) in home foundation plantings. As this camellia grows lower branches can be removed to form a small evergreen tree that serves as an attractive and colorful focal point specimen in landscape borders and home foundation plantings. A fine addition to white theme gardens, camellia gardens, Asian gardens, cottage gardens, and in woodland gardens and borders. Also suitable for containers that can be brought indoors during winter by those who live and garden above USDA Zone 7a, where this camellia variety is not reliably winter hardy. Find Your Zone

Suggested Spacing: 5 feet apart for solid hedge; 10 feet or more apart for space between plants

Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a, where this Camellia variety is not reliably winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.

Growing Preferences

Camellia adapt well to various soil types however prefer a moist but well-drained acidic soil that is rich in organic matter. Constantly soggy soil is a slow killer. In general, Camellia grows and blooms better in partial shade with some shelter from the hot afternoon sun. Morning sun with afternoon shade or filtered sunlight is perfect. All-day filtered sun is fine.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Camellias.

Planting Camellias

Pruning Camellias

How To Fertilize & Water Camellias

How To Espalier Plants & Trees

*Espalier (pronounced: ih-spal-yay) …an ornamental shrub or tree that has been trained to grow flat against a wall, fence, or other vertical, flat surface.

Plant Long & Prosper!

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Questions? Contact Us

I think you are doing an excellent job. You ship timely and plants are healthy. keep up the good work!——————————————–We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the kind words and great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

Thank you for the beautiful camellia plants. They will be honouring our back garden, newly planted with evergreens as we reestablish our garden after the Texas freeze of 2021. Everything but the oaks, magnolias, and Louisiana iris died. We have now established an entirely evergreen garden.——————————————-We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the kind words and great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

Sent as a present to a friend, she is pleased with the plant. So far, so good. It’s been transplanted recently so we’ll see how it goes——————————————-We are so glad you and your friend are pleased and we hope she enjoys it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

After a year long search to replace an Alba Plena camellia I finally found it from Wilson Brothers. It shipped on the date that I requested and arrived the next day perfectly boxed. I planted it the next day and it looks beautiful in front of our porch. Thank y’all so very much.——————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Healthy, beautiful camellia arrived without a single damaged leaf! Gorgeous plant that was almost 3’ tall! Deep rich green leaves. I was so excited that I planted immediately and now anxiously await blooming season!

Packaged safe and sound for a very timely arrival. The plant is healthy looking and doing well since planted a few days ago.———————————————-Hi Sandra, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Alba Plena Camellia Japonica. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! 🙂
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

The order was handled promptly and professionally. The plant arrived as promised, packed well, and in good shape. It is in the ground and starting to bud. Met or exceeded all expectations————————————-Hi Dorsey, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Alba Plena Camellia Japonica. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words! 🙂
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

I ordered five Alba Plena Camellias which arrived at my door in two days. They were perfectly packaged – not a leaf out of place and no dirt spillage. The plants, which had already finished blooming, were green and gorgeous. My husband and I were very impressed with the service and quality from Wilson Brothers. We will definitely order from them again as needs arise.—————-WBG Reply: Hi Denise, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Alba Plena Camellia. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

Beautiful Alba Plena Camellia arrived intact and healthy. Foliage is full and green. Can’t wait to see blooms.———————————-WBG Reply: Hi Cid, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Alba Plena Camellia. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

Healthy shrub and doing well after a month! ——————- WBG Reply: Hi Edward – Thanks so much for the review of the Alba Plena Camellia. Glad to hear it’s doing well after planting and hope you enjoy this beauty for years to come. Let us know if there’s ever anything else we can help you with. We’re at your service! – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens

Plant arrived nicely packaged and a day earlier than expected. It looked to be in good condition. It has been planted and seems to be doing well. I could not find this specific camellia in any of my local nurseries. ——————- WBG Reply: Hi Beth – Thanks for your review of the Alba Plena Camellia. Glad to hear it’s doing well and we hope you enjoy this flowering beauty for years to come. Let us know if there’s ever anything else we can help you with. We’re at your service! – Brent – Wilson Bros Gardens

I couldn’t be more happy with my new camellia. The box was a little dented here and there but when I took it out of the box the plant was in perfect shape with dark green leaves and was surprised to see a bloom already open. Absolutely gorgeous and there are several more buds yet to open. You obviously did a good job growing this beauty and I promise to take care of her. If I could give 6 stars I would. Excellent job and I will tell all my friends about you. ——————- WBG Reply: – Hi Susan – Thanks so much for your review and for the compliments. We agree, Alba Plena really has a gorgeous bloom and glad to hear you got to see one so soon. Hope you enjoy this beauty for years to come! Let us know of there’s every anything else we can help you with. – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens

Plant came loaded with Blooms. Such a nice addition to my garden,