Camellia Japonica Desire - 20cm Pot

Camellia japonica ‘Desire’ is a stunning evergreen camellia admired for its elegant formal double flowers and lush glossy foliage. Producing beautifully shaped blooms with deep pink edges surrounding a creamy white centre, this classic variety brings colour and sophistication to the garden during the cooler months. Its upright, bushy growth habit makes it an excellent choice for feature planting, hedging and camellia collections.

From late autumn through winter and into spring, ‘Desire’ produces an abundance of large formal flowers that stand out against its rich dark green foliage. The striking two-tone blooms create a refined display, with the crisp white centres framed by vibrant deep pink margins. The glossy evergreen leaves provide year-round structure and make an attractive backdrop for the flowers, ensuring the plant remains appealing even when not in bloom.

‘Desire’ develops into a dense, upright shrub over time. While it can be slightly slower to fill out than some camellia varieties, its exceptional flowering display more than rewards the wait. It performs beautifully as a specimen shrub, flowering hedge or feature plant in woodland-style gardens and sheltered courtyards. It is also well suited to growing in large containers.

Mature size: approximately 2.5–4 metres high × 2–3 metres wide

Care & Growing Tips
Plant Camellia japonica ‘Desire’ in a position with morning sun and afternoon shade, or filtered light throughout the day. Protection from strong winds will help preserve flowers and foliage.

Prefers fertile, slightly acidic, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter.

Water regularly during establishment and maintain consistent soil moisture during dry periods. Reduce watering frequency once established but avoid allowing the soil to dry out completely.

Apply a quality fertiliser suitable for camellias and flowering shrubs in spring after flowering, with a second application in mid to late summer if required.

Mulch with approximately 5cm of quality organic mulch to help retain moisture, suppress weeds and improve soil health, keeping mulch clear of the trunk.

Prune lightly after flowering or in early spring to maintain shape and encourage bushier growth.

Frost tolerant once established and well suited to cool and temperate Australian gardens.

Ideal for
– Feature flowering shrubs
– Evergreen hedging and screening
– Camellia collections
– Woodland and shade gardens
– Pots and container growing
– Winter and spring colour displays