Black Magic Camellia Japonica

Camellia japonica ‘Black Magic’

Plant Details

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

Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Shrub

Species: Japonica (Winter, Spring blooming)

Height at Maturity: 10′

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

Flower Color: Dark-Red, Black tones and venation

Flower Size: 4″

Flowering Period: Late Winter, Spring

Flower Type: Semi-Double

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Rich 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 – more info, Drought (when established), Heat, Humidity

Intolerances: Direct Afternoon Sun, Constantly Soggy Soil

Attracts: Visual Attention

Description

A vigorous grower and truly remarkable Camellia, ‘Black Magic’ boasts large, almost artificial looking, super-glossy semi-double flowers with black-veined, wavy deep red petals that surround contrasting bright yellow center stamens. The flowers usually open a red to dark red and then turn to deep red displaying black in the veins and around the edges on the second day. The lustrous, rich green toothed leaves provide a wonderful backdrop for the flowers. To enjoy and show off the striking flowers inside the home take some cuttings and display in your favorite vase or float just one in a bowl of water.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing vigorously in an upright habit of growth to about 10 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide, the Black Magic Camellia can be grown as a shrub or small tree. As a shrub it is ideal for use as a specimen, in groupings, and 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 taller, lower branches can be removed to a desired height to form an attractive focal point specimen tree ideal for use in landscape borders and home foundation plantings. A fine addition to red or black color theme gardens, camellia gardens, Asian gardens, cottage gardens, cut flower gardens and woodland borders. Also suitable for containers that can be brought indoors during winter in zones north of 7a, where this cultivar is not reliably winter hardy. Find Your Zone

Spacing: 5 to 6 feet or more for solid hedge; 12 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 and evening 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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It arrived healthy with several beautiful blooms!————————————————————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

Thank you Thank you the plant arrived it’s absolutely beautiful…. you are amazing I am never dissapointed…————————————————————Wow! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

This is a magnificent bush, very large with blooms. I have always been fascinated with this camellia. The blooms are like NO OTHER. They are thicker with a waxy looking finish. It is a MUST have. I love the 7 gal bush it is great!!!————————————————-Love the Black Magic! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG