Camellia Japonica ‘Tom Knudsen’ Live Plant – 1ft Tall, Dark Red Flowers

Overview

The Camellia Japonica ‘Tom Knudsen’ live plant is a truly magnificent evergreen shrub, celebrated for its exquisite dark red, peony-form flowers that burst into bloom during the fall. This particular variety, ‘Tom Knudsen’, is highly prized for its vigorous, upright growth habit and its stunning, richly colored blossoms. Originating from Asia, Camellias have been cherished for centuries, and this cultivar continues that legacy, adding a touch of classic beauty to any garden. As an evergreen, it provides lush, green foliage year-round, ensuring your landscape remains vibrant even when not in bloom. It’s a fantastic choice for those looking to add a focal point or a sophisticated hedge to their outdoor space, offering both visual appeal and a robust presence.

This particular Camellia ‘Tom Knudsen’ care is straightforward, making it accessible for a wide range of gardeners. Its striking appearance and relatively easy maintenance contribute to its popularity. Whether you’re an experienced horticulturist or just starting your gardening journey, this plant will reward you with its captivating display. Its ability to grow into a substantial size allows it to make a significant impact in garden design, providing structure and a burst of color when many other plants are winding down for the season.

Key Benefits

The Camellia Japonica ‘Tom Knudsen’ live plant offers numerous advantages, making it a stellar addition to any garden or landscape, providing both aesthetic beauty and practical resilience.

• Stunning Fall Blooms: Enjoy a breathtaking display of dark red, peony-form flowers during the fall season, bringing vibrant color when many other plants are dormant. These showy blooms are a true highlight.
• Evergreen Foliage: This camellia maintains its lush, green leaves throughout the year, providing continuous visual interest and structure to your garden, even in winter.
• Substantial Growth: With the potential to reach 10-12 feet tall, this shrub can serve as an impressive focal point, a privacy screen, or a sophisticated backdrop in your landscape.
• Partial Sun Adaptability: Thrives in partial sun conditions, making it versatile for various garden settings where direct, intense sunlight might be limited. This characteristic ensures healthy growth and abundant flowering.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, the evergreen Camellia shrub requires minimal care, making it an excellent choice for gardeners seeking beauty without constant attention.
• Architectural Appeal: Its upright growth habit provides strong vertical lines and a classic, structured look to your garden design, enhancing overall aesthetic appeal.
• Attracts Pollinators: The beautiful flowers can attract beneficial pollinators to your garden, contributing to a healthy ecosystem.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper care is essential to ensure your Camellia Japonica ‘Tom Knudsen’ live plant thrives and produces its spectacular blooms. This variety prefers a location with partial sun, meaning it benefits from morning sun and afternoon shade, especially in warmer climates. Too much direct, intense sun can scorch the leaves, while too little light can reduce flowering. Ensure the soil remains consistently moist but not waterlogged. Watering deeply once or twice a week, particularly during dry spells and when the plant is establishing, is generally sufficient. Reduce watering frequency in cooler months.

When it comes to soil, Camellias prefer acidic, well-draining soil rich in organic matter. A pH between 5.5 and 6.5 is ideal. Amend heavy clay soils with compost or pine bark to improve drainage and aeration. Fertilize in early spring after the last frost, using a slow-release, acid-loving plant fertilizer. Avoid fertilizing in late summer or fall, as this can stimulate new growth that is susceptible to winter damage. Pruning should be done after flowering to maintain shape and remove any dead or crossing branches. The dark red Camellia is generally hardy, but protection from strong winter winds can be beneficial in colder zones. Watch out for common pests like scale insects and aphids; treat with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap if necessary.

Size & Details

This Camellia Japonica ‘Tom Knudsen’ live plant typically ships at approximately 1 foot tall, rooted in a 6-inch nursery pot, providing a strong start for transplanting into your garden. As a mature specimen, it is known to achieve a substantial size, reaching an average height of 10-12 feet with a spread of 6-8 feet, forming an impressive upright evergreen shrub. Its growth rate is moderate, allowing it to establish well and develop its full majestic form over several years. Expect the first stunning, dark red, peony-form blooms to appear in the fall, continuing to enhance your landscape for many seasons to come. This plant is delivered as a healthy, actively growing potted specimen, ready to be introduced to its new outdoor home.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: The Camellia Japonica ‘Tom Knudsen’ live plant can grow quite large, typically reaching a mature height of 10-12 feet tall with a spread of 6-8 feet. It forms an impressive, upright evergreen shrub.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: This plant is shipped in a 6-inch nursery pot, and it stands approximately 1 foot tall upon arrival, providing a well-rooted specimen ready for planting.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Camellia Japonica ‘Tom Knudsen’ live plant is primarily an outdoor plant, best suited for garden beds or large containers on patios where it can thrive in its preferred partial sun conditions.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This Camellia performs best in partial sun, meaning it requires 4-6 hours of sunlight per day, ideally with morning sun and protection from intense afternoon sun to prevent leaf scorch. This is crucial for excellent blooming.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, once established, the evergreen Camellia shrub is considered relatively low-maintenance. It requires consistent moisture, well-draining acidic soil, and occasional feeding.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your Camellia Japonica ‘Tom Knudsen’ will arrive as a healthy, actively growing live plant, carefully packaged to ensure its safe journey and immediate readiness for planting.
• Q: When is the best time to plant? A: The best time to plant your dark red Camellia is in the spring or fall, allowing it adequate time to establish its root system before extreme summer heat or winter cold.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: Camellia partial sun varieties like ‘Tom Knudsen’ are typically hardy in USDA zones 7-9. In colder zones, it may require winter protection or be grown in a container that can be moved indoors.
• Q: Does this plant have any fragrance? A: While many camellias are not known for strong fragrance, ‘Tom Knudsen’ is primarily valued for its visual beauty and impressive bloom structure rather than its scent.
• Q: How long until it blooms? A: This Camellia typically blooms in the fall. If planted in spring, you may see its first blooms in the fall of the same year or the following year once it has settled into its new environment.