Fast growing and elegant, Helen is a free flowering sasanqua with a compact and upright growth habit.
Paradise 'Helen' produces masses of brilliant pink buds that open into large dazzling double white flowers over a long period starting very early in the cooler seasons.
Paradise camellias will grow Australia wide, they are tolerant of light frosts and heat. But may need some protection in extreme conditions.
Low to medium hedges
Informal borders
Feature shrubs
Espalier
Large containers
- Containers
- Hedging
- Screening
- Shrubs
Full sun or light shade
Camellia sasanqua prefer a well drained acid soil. They will not tolerate waterlogged soil and heavy soils should be improved with plenty of organic matter prior to planting.
Good drainage is essential. Heavy or clay soils will require raised beds and addition of organic matter to improve drainage conditions.
Space plants 1m apart for a hedge or border.
With heavy, clay or very poor soils add organic matter to the area prior to planting.
Dig your hole approximately twice the size of the pot being transplanted.
Backfill around your plant with loose soil ensuring that the top of the root ball is sitting level with the surrounding ground.
Water deeply and apply mulch.
Paradise camellias are drought tolerant once established, however regular deep watering is needed for the first 3-6 months. Soil should be moist but not waterlogged.
Mulching will help to protect surface roots from extremes of temperature and also help to maintain moisture levels in the soil. The mulch layer should be applied 10cm thick and kept 5cm - 10cm away from the base of the plant to ensure adequate air flow around the stem of the plant.
Light pruning once a year after flowering is often all that is needed to keep sasanquas neat. However if more formal shapes or hedges are desired more pruning may be necessary. Be aware that trimming off spring growth will remove the next seasons flowers.
Feed only in spring and summer using a good quality complete fertiliser.
Look out for this label in all good garden centres.