April Tryst Camellia Japonica

Camellia japonica ‘April Tryst’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6a-9b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Shrub

Species: Japonica (Spring blooming)

Height at Maturity: 8′ or so

Width at Maturity: 5′ or so
Spacing: 4′ for solid hedges; 8’+ for space between

Flower Color: Deep True Red, Rose-Red

Flower Size: 4″

Flowering Period: Spring – March, April, and May

Flower Type: Anemone Form, Double

Fragrant Flowers: Yes

Foliage Color: Dark Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: No

Berry Color: NA

Sun Needs: Morning Sun with Afternoon Shade or Filtered Sun, All Day Filtered Sun

Water Needs: Average, Lower when established

Soil Type: Clay (amended), Loam, Sand (amended), Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist

Soil pH: 5.0 – 6.5 (Acid)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Resistances: Deer – more info, Drought (when established), Heat, Humidity

Intolerances: Direct Afternoon Sun, Constantly Soggy Soil

Attracts: Visual Attention

Description

April Tryst is a prized selection from the April Camellia Series, which were developed to have improved winter cold hardiness and a later bloom cycle than most other Camellia japonica. It is one of the few Camellia japonica recommended for growing in USDA Zone 6a, as far north as St Louis, Missouri!

One of the most cold hardy in the April Camellia Series, ‘April Tryst’ produces an abundance of absolutely gorgeous, 4-inch wide, double, anemone-form fragrant flowers with petals graced in shades of deep red to rose red for an eye-catching show of color in March, April, and May. Glossy dark green foliage provides amazing contrast and a wonderful backdrop for the plentiful flowers. The flowers are excellent for cutting and display in indoor flower arrangements. A must have for camellia enthusiasts and collectors as well as those who love unique and interesting flowers.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing to about 8 feet tall and 5 or so feet wide, the April Tryst Camellia can be grown as a shrub or small tree. As a shrub, it is ideal for use as a specimen, in groupings, or as a hedge or background plant in partially shaded landscape borders and is especially nice as a corner plant or espalier (trained to grow flat against a wall) in home foundation plantings. As this camellia grows, lower branches can be removed to form a small tree that serves well as an attractive and colorful focal point specimen in landscape borders and home foundation plantings. A fine addition to camellia gardens, red theme gardens, cottage gardens, cut flower gardens and woodland borders. Also suitable for containers that can be brought indoors during winter by those who live and garden above USDA Zone 6a, where this camellia variety is not reliably winter hardy. Find Your Zone

Suggested Spacing: 4 feet apart for solid hedge; 8 feet or more apart for space between plants

Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a, where this Camellia variety is not winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.

Growing Preferences

Camellia adapt well to various soil types however prefer a moist but well-drained acidic soil that is rich in organic matter. Constantly soggy soil is a slow killer. In general, Camellia grows and blooms better in partial shade with some shelter from the hot afternoon sun. Morning sun with afternoon shade or filtered sunlight is perfect. All-day filtered sun is fine.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Camellias.

Planting Camellias
Pruning Camellias
How To Fertilize & Water Camellias
How To Espalier Plants & Trees

*Espalier (pronounced: ih-spal-yay) …an ornamental shrub or tree that has been trained to grow flat against a wall, fence, or other vertical, flat surface.

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