Camellia Japonica Paolina Maggi

Camellia Japonica Paolina Maggi is an evergreen white-flowering camellia shrub with mid-spring flowers and deep glossy green foliage. It suits acidic borders and well-watered plant pots or containers.

Camellia Japonica are native to Japan, China, Korea, and Taiwan growing in woodlands and mountainous areas. There are examples of camellia on 11^th century Chinese ceramics, but the first live camellia didn’t arrive in Europe until 1739 - see also Camellias in Britain - an informal history. Camellias like our cooler climate and have been cultivated in many different forms over the past few hundred years.

Camellia Paolina Maggi is an Italian bred camellia that was first introduced in the 1800s. It’s sometimes referred to as Camellia Japonica Contessa Paolina Maggi. This camellia variety has been popular across the centuries for its delicate, formal double-white flowers that often have a pale pink candy stripe. Flowers appear on its dark-green glossy foliaged branches in mid-spring bringing brightness to a dull garden.

Camellias are great shrubs for low maintenance gardens and this pretty white cultivar will fit into any design scheme.

Height And Spread of Camellia Japonica Paolina Maggi 
Paolina Maggi reaches a maximum height of 3 metres and spreads over 2 metres. You can keep it smaller with a yearly prune.

How Hardy Is Camellia Japonica Paolina Maggi 
Camellia Japonica are very hardy shrubs capable of coping with sub-zero temperatures if their roots are well-drained. They need semi-shade and shouldn’t be allowed to dry out.

How To Use Camellia Japonica Paolina Maggi 
Camellias benefit low maintenance gardens, rock or gravel gardens, and Japanese themes but they are endlessly versatile and suit the majority of spaces such as a mixed border in a country cottage garden or a modern urban courtyard.

Camellia Japonica Paolina Maggi’s understated white flowers don’t clash with bright colour schemes but lift a dark area with light.

You can grow camellias in a large well-watered container of ericaceous compost on a sheltered balcony, deck, or patio as a specimen shrub too.

How To Care For Camellia Japonica Paolina Maggi
Camellias need moist, acidic soil to flourish. If your soil is chalky, it’s best to grow them in a well-watered and fed container of ericaceous compost. If they’re left to dry out, camellias will drop their buds when they form them in summer ready for the next year.
Choose a semi-shaded spot ideally with plenty of protection from harsh drying winds and avoid frost pockets. Pruning Camellia Japonica Paolina Maggi isn’t required, but you can remove wayward branches or shorten its height after the flowers are spent in mid to late spring.
The buds may need some protection from late frosts. If a frost is forecast in early spring cover the whole shrub with horticultural fleece to ensure the buds are not damaged.
Mulch it well with pine or bracken-based compost each year in early spring and be sure to water it well until it’s established.