camellias or azaleas

[Anonymous]

As much as I want a winter daphne to work in my shady north facing space, I've been given a reality check about how finicky they are. I'm looking for a low-ish evergreen (no more than 3-4 feet high) that has some bloom interest in late winter/spring since we'll have astilbes blooming in the summer. I think we're looking at camellias or azaleas. Camellias will require pruning since they can grow rather tall, but it sounds like they're slow growers and this wouldn't be difficult. Seems like both could attract hummingbirds and butterflies. The side of the house that gets part day sun will have hydrangeas, might even try a hardy gardenia. The shady front is along a porch railing and will be the evergreen shrubs and astilbes.

I know this really comes down to personal preference, but given all that which would you choose (and any reason why)?

[Anonymous]

We have both. the camellias don’t bloom for very long, at least the type we have so for most of the year it’s an evergreen bush. That being said, of course, the azaleas don’t bloom for very long either, but they have more interest during the other times of the year in my opinion. At least the type that stay evergreen and aren’t leggy looking. They are also a completely different shapes so I think depending on your area if you want something taller and skinnier versus shorter and wider.

[Anonymous]

I love Camellias, but the blooms always end up spoiled. It’s just how they are.

It would be a great idea to visit the National Arboretum around the time you want them to bloom. They have big collections of both so you could find some good varieties.

There are also probably Viburnums that would work for you, maybe button bush? Those are natives. Not evergreen.

I got our camellias from a Camellia Forest Nursery by mail and they’ve done well. They are definitely slow growing. Make sure you get a cold hardy variety or you’ll grow them for 15 years only to lose them to a harsh winter.

[Anonymous]

I have a Camelia and it blooms from late February through late March- so we have nice flowers for a month or even a little longer. It’s beautiful! We also have azaleas so when the Camelia bloom is totally finished, the azaleas start soon after

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have both. the camellias don’t bloom for very long, at least the type we have so for most of the year it’s an evergreen bush. That being said, of course, the azaleas don’t bloom for very long either, but they have more interest during the other times of the year in my opinion. At least the type that stay evergreen and aren’t leggy looking. They are also a completely different shapes so I think depending on your area if you want something taller and skinnier versus shorter and wider.

Thanks, this is good to know. The area we're looking to landscape against the porch is about 10-12' wide, and hoping not to go too much higher than 3-4' (but accept some pruning necessary, and of course will need to get multiple of whatever we go with). Very new gardener here, have been trying to figure this all out in recent months because the previous homeowner left us with no/bad landscaping.

What do you mean the azaleas (evergreen) have more interest than camellias when they're not in bloom? Are the leaves more interesting than camellia leaves?

[Anonymous]

I have camelias -- note that different varieties bloom at different times -- and azaleas, but I also really like my viburnums and especially my dwarf kalmia (mountain laurel). And as long as it isn't deep shade, you should look at dwarf abelia as they smell just as heavenly as the daphne you wanted and are so maintenance free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have camelias -- note that different varieties bloom at different times -- and azaleas, but I also really like my viburnums and especially my dwarf kalmia (mountain laurel). And as long as it isn't deep shade, you should look at dwarf abelia as they smell just as heavenly as the daphne you wanted and are so maintenance free.

I just looked up the abelia, those are beautiful, but yeah it's deep shade. North facing yard that is shaded entirely by the house. Do you think the dwarf kalmia would grow there? Those are pretty too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love Camellias, but the blooms always end up spoiled. It’s just how they are.

It would be a great idea to visit the National Arboretum around the time you want them to bloom. They have big collections of both so you could find some good varieties.

There are also probably Viburnums that would work for you, maybe button bush? Those are natives. Not evergreen.

I got our camellias from a Camellia Forest Nursery by mail and they’ve done well. They are definitely slow growing. Make sure you get a cold hardy variety or you’ll grow them for 15 years only to lose them to a harsh winter.

Do you mean they start to look bad at the end of the blooming?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love Camellias, but the blooms always end up spoiled. It’s just how they are.

It would be a great idea to visit the National Arboretum around the time you want them to bloom. They have big collections of both so you could find some good varieties.

There are also probably Viburnums that would work for you, maybe button bush? Those are natives. Not evergreen.

I got our camellias from a Camellia Forest Nursery by mail and they’ve done well. They are definitely slow growing. Make sure you get a cold hardy variety or you’ll grow them for 15 years only to lose them to a harsh winter.

Do you mean they start to look bad at the end of the blooming?

DP here, and I have the same complaint. The whole plant doesn't tend to bloom together so some look brown when they're done. It just not a satisfying look to me.

[Anonymous]

With camellias, you can cut and put in a vase. They don't last long, but they are very pretty.

I love camellias, but azaleas are less finicky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love Camellias, but the blooms always end up spoiled. It’s just how they are.

It would be a great idea to visit the National Arboretum around the time you want them to bloom. They have big collections of both so you could find some good varieties.

There are also probably Viburnums that would work for you, maybe button bush? Those are natives. Not evergreen.

I got our camellias from a Camellia Forest Nursery by mail and they’ve done well. They are definitely slow growing. Make sure you get a cold hardy variety or you’ll grow them for 15 years only to lose them to a harsh winter.

Do you mean they start to look bad at the end of the blooming?

Yes but if you get a cold night, it can spoil even the ones that are just opening. I still love them, but it’s worth noting. It’s sort of like Magnolias. If you love magnolias even if they get a little brown, you’ll love camellias.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thank you, this has been really helpful. Will likely go with azaleas, both because they're less finicky but also because they more naturally fit the space better.

[Anonymous]

Know there are lots of different types of of azaelas: some are everygreen, some are not; certain ones are blooming now, many will start blooming in April, some do not bloom till late spring, some bloom in both spring and fall; they very in their cold-hardiness

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Know there are lots of different types of of azaelas: some are everygreen, some are not; certain ones are blooming now, many will start blooming in April, some do not bloom till late spring, some bloom in both spring and fall; they very in their cold-hardiness

Thank you, we will make sure to talk with the garden center about which ones would meet our needs.

I am still interested in the dwarf kalmia as well, but not entirely sure they'll work because it seems they like some sun.

[Anonymous]

I just planted George Taber azaleas last fall. They are evergreen and online sites show them as fast growing and massive. The garden center tagged them as dwarf so I bought them without having researched further. We shall see how they do. I will say that I’m already impressed to see blooms since azaleas don’t typically flower the first year. These look more like rhododendrons and I love that they are evergreen.