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.

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