How to Prune Sasanqua Camellia

Camellia sasanqua is an evergreen shrub that produces red, pink or white blooms during the winter and spring. It can reach a height of 25 feet but generally only grows to about 6 to 12 feet in the home landscape. Camellia sasanqua usually requires little pruning, but with just a bit of yearly pruning, you can encourage branching, remove broken or diseased branches and shape your bush as desired. Hold off on pruning your camellia sasanqua until after it is finished flowering in the spring.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning tool
• Bleach
• Water
• Rag

Instructions

1. Sterilize your pruning tool, such as lopping shears, if you have used it with other diseased plants. Wipe down the blades with a rag dipped in 1 part chlorine bleach and 9 parts water.

2. Cut off broken, damaged or diseased branches 3 or 4 inches below the affected area. Sterilize between cuts as described in Step 1 if the branches are diseased. Make a clean cut; make sure your tool is sharp.

3. Prune to shape the bush and to thin out the middle to improve air flow. Cut unwanted individual branches down to the center of the plant. You can also prune off the tips about 6 to 12 inches to help encourage branching and fuller growth.

References

• University of California Cooperative Extension: Camellias
• North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service: Pruning Trees and Shrubs

Resources

• Clemson Cooperative Extension: Camellia Diseases & Insect Pests