Camellia japonica Wildfire

If you want a Camellia that turns heads, Wildfire is it. Where most Camellias play it safe with pinks and whites, Wildfire goes its own way with bold, reddish-orange semi-double flowers centred with a bright cluster of golden yellow stamens. It is a striking, unusual colour for a Camellia, and it lights up shaded garden spaces through winter and spring in a way that few other plants can match.

Wildfire is a vigorous, upright grower that can reach 3 to 4.5m tall, making it an excellent choice for hedging, screening or creating a tall feature in a shaded or semi-shaded position. The large, shiny dark green foliage is handsome year-round, providing a lush backdrop that makes the fiery flowers pop even more when they appear. Like all Camellias it prefers to be protected from hot afternoon sun, which can scorch both the foliage and the flowers, but given the right position it is a reliable, low-maintenance performer that will reward you for many years.

Key Features:

• Soil: Loam, sandy or well-drained soil. Wildfire prefers a slightly acidic soil pH and good drainage, and will not perform well in heavy, waterlogged conditions that restrict root development.
• Light: Semi shade to full shade. Protect from hot afternoon sun, which can scorch the foliage and bleach the distinctive reddish-orange flower colour. A position with morning sun and dappled afternoon shade gives the best results.
• Watering: Medium to moderate water needs. Keep moist during dry periods, particularly through summer and while the plant is establishing in its first season. Deep, infrequent watering encourages a stronger root system than frequent shallow watering.
• Fertiliser: Apply a slow-release fertiliser formulated for camellias or acid-loving plants in late winter after flowering has finished. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilisers which promote leafy growth at the expense of flowers, and never use fertilisers high in phosphorus.
• Maintenance: Low maintenance. Mulch well around the base to retain moisture and keep the root zone cool. Prune lightly after flowering in spring to shape and control size if needed. Check periodically for scale insects, particularly in sheltered or humid positions, and treat with horticultural oil if detected.
• Flowering: Flowers through winter and into spring, with the main display typically occurring from late June through to October. The reddish-orange colour is best preserved in a sheltered position away from harsh afternoon sun and strong winds.

Wildfire is one of the most distinctive Camellias you can grow, but the flower colour is best preserved in a position that gets morning sun and afternoon shade. Hot afternoon sun will bleach the reddish-orange tones to a washed-out pink fairly quickly, so placement really matters with this variety. If you are growing it as a hedge, plant at 1 to 1.5m spacings and allow it to grow naturally for a few seasons before doing any shaping, as its vigorous growth rate means it will fill in quickly without much encouragement.

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