Nina Avery Camellia

Camellia japonica ‘Nina Avery’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 7a-9b (10?) Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Shrub

Species: Japonica (Winter, Spring blooming)

Height at Maturity: 8-12′ depending on pruning

Width at Maturity: 6-10′ depending on pruning

Spacing: 5-6′ for solid hedge; 14’+ for space between plants

Flower Color: Variations of Whitewashed Pink

Flower Size: 3-4″

Flowering Period: Late Winter, Early Spring

Flower Type: Double to Loose Peony

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Medium 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: Moist But Well Drained

Soil pH: 5.0 – 6.5 (Acid)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

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

Intolerances: Direct Afternoon Sun, Constantly Soggy Soil

Description

First discovered as a chance seedling on 1947, ‘Nina Avery’ is an absolutely gorgeous Camellia featuring white-washed rose pink blooms and pretty yellow stamens that peek out from between the petals in late winter into spring. The blooms can be variations of semi-double to loose peony with crinkled erect center petals all on the same plant. Excellent for cutting and display in flower arrangements or to float a bloom in a bowl of water. With a tall and bushy habit, you can grow this beauty as a large shrub or remove lower branches to form an attractive small tree that serves as an excellent evergreen focal point in the landscape.

History

This chance japonica seedling first flowered in 1947 and was propagated and registered in 1949 by Edward A. McIlhenny at Jungle Gardens, Avery Island, Louisiana. Was named for the matriarch of the McIlhenny family of Avery Island, La, where the famous “Tabasco” sauce is made.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 8 to 12 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide depending on pruning, the Nina Avery 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 well as an attractive and 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 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 8a, where this camellia variety is not reliably winter hardy. Find Your Zone

Suggested Spacing: 5 to 6 feet apart for solid hedge or privacy screen; 14 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 and care for Camellias.

Planting Camellias

Pruning Camellias

How To Fertilize & Water Camellia

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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This plant arrived quickly and packaged with care. It was so nice to search for specific plants on this website that are hard to find in nurseries. Thank you!———————————-You’re welcome! Thanks for the kind words and wonderful review! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Plants were healthy and well packed for travel. Would not hesitate to order additional plants in the future.————————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

The camellias arrived just fine and look very healthy. Nice tall plants with excellent amount of growth.—————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG