In the St. Louis area, grow in moist, acidic, organically rich, well-drained soils in part shade in a sheltered and protected microclimate such as near the south side of a home or building. Protection from direct sun in hot summer afternoons is important. Best location may be sun dappled part shade. Plants appreciate consistent moisture. Apply a root mulch. Camellia japonica (see B546 herein) is generally considered to be winter hardy to USDA Zone 8, and as such will not survive typical St. Louis winters outdoors. However, camellias in the new April Series are unusually winter hardy and reportedly will survive winters in USDA Zone 6b (southern Missouri). With protection and mild winter weather (temperatures do not dip below zero degrees F), April Series camellias are likely to survive winters outdoors in St. Louis (USDA Zone 6a). Regardless of winter hardiness, April Series camellias are still somewhat temperamental plants that dislike sharp changes in temperature, irregular watering or being moved. Buds appear in clusters. Removing all but one bud per cluster will increase flower size. Plants may be grown in containers that are brought indoors in fall and overwintered near a bright sunny window.
‘April Snow’ is a cultivar in the new April Series of camellias that are noted for having excellent winter hardiness (to USDA Zone 6b). This is an evergreen shrub that typically grows over time to 5-8’ tall and to 4’ wide with elliptic to obovate, serrate, glossy dark green leaves (to 3” long). Fragrant, white, rose-form double flowers (2” diameter) bloom in late season (mid-late winter) when grown outdoors in warm winter climates or indoors in containers, but bloom in early spring (April) when grown outdoors in the northern part of its growing range. Bloom time gives rise to the name April Series.
Camellias are susceptible to a number of fungal diseases including leaf spots, black mold, flower blight, canker and root rot. Scale can be a troublesome insect pest.
In St. Louis, best planted in protected locations around homes, foundations and patios. May be grown in containers that are overwintered indoors. Good specimen shrub for lawns, shrub borders, backgrounds and around homes in mild winter locations (USDA Zones 7-10).
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