Quick Guide: winter/spring, hardy, semi-shade, height:5m/16ft, width: 3.6m/12ft

Camellias are beautiful, with large cup-shaped flowers of pink, red, purple or white and dark green glossy leaves.

GROWING Plant in autumn or spring in any good, lime-free soil, previously enriched with leaf-mould if light in texture. Give plants the protection of a sheltered wall which is shaded from the rising sun, since they are susceptible to damage from wind, frost and early morning sun after frost. Stake young plants until established. Mulch generously every spring with well- rotted organic matter or leaf-mould. Dead-head the species after flowering. If necessary, shorten wispy shoots in spring - no other pruning is required. Early-flowering species do well in small tubs containing a mixture of lime-free loam, peat and sand at 4:2:1, but should be moved indoors over winter.

PROPAGATION Layer specimens in autumn

SPECIES Camellia japonica (above), very early flowering, all shades of pink. Varieties include `White Swan', single white flowers with prominent yellow stamens; `Adolphe Audusson', semi-double crimson flowers 12.5cm/5in across; `Anemonaeflora', deep red flowers; `Elegans', large rose-pink peony-type flowers. C. x williamsii, outstanding hybrid, height up to 2.4m/8ft, free-flowering from late autumn to spring. Varieties include the exceptional `Donation', pale pink.

POSSIBLE PROBLEMS Birds may damage the flowers.