Les Marbury Camellia Japonica

Camellia japonica ‘Les Marbury’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 7a-10b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Shrub

Species: Japonica (Winter, Spring blooming)

Height at Maturity: 8-12′

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

Flower Color: Pink, Red, White, Bi-Color

Flower Size: Small, 3″+

Flowering Period: Late Winter and Early to Mid-Spring

Flower Type: Full Double

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: 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

Resistances: Deer, Drought (when established), Heat, Humidity

Intolerances: Direct Afternoon Sun, Constantly Soggy Soil

Attracts: Visual Attention

Description

One that is sure to make your garden the talk of the neighborhood, the Les Marbury Camellia Japonica wows spectators in late winter to mid spring with its spectacular, fully double variegated blooms of pink, white, and red that stand out remarkably well against a dense backdrop of evergreen foliage. If that isn’t enough to wow you, take a look at the petal pattern and the almost geometric shape of the petals. Les Marbury is perfect for a splash of color in your garden before everything else starts blooming in late winter through early spring. The flowers are excellent for cutting for display in your favorite vase or floating just one in a bowl of water. With its upright growth habit of up to 12′ tall and 8′ wide, the Les Marbury is perfect as a focal point specimen or for a colorful evergreen hedge. This one deserves a special spot in every landscape where it will grow (USDA Zones 7a-10b).

Landscape & Garden Uses

A moderate growing Camellia with an upright habit of growth to about 8 to 12 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide, Les Marbury can be grown as a 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 corner plant or espalier (trained to grow flat against a wall) in home foundation plantings. As your camellia grows lower branches can be removed to form a highly attractive, small evergreen tree that serves well as a colorful focal point specimen in landscape borders and home foundation plantings. A fine addition to camellia gardens, pink theme gardens, Asian gardens, cottage gardens, cut flower gardens and woodland borders. Also suitable for containers that can be brought indoors during winter by those who garden above USDA Zone 7a, where this variety is not reliably winter hardy. Find Your Zone

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

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, fertilize, prune and water 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.

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