April Dawn Camellia Japonica
Camellia japonica ‘April Dawn’
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6a-9b Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Shrub
Species: Japonica
Height at Maturity: 8′ depending on pruning
Width at Maturity: 4′ depending on pruning
Spacing: 3-3.5′ for solid hedges; 5.5’+ for space between
Spacing: 3-3.5′ for solid hedges; 5.5’+ for space between
Flower Color: White, Dark Pink striping, can be solid Raspberry Red
Flower Size: Large, 4″
Flowering Period: Early Spring, April
Flower Type: Double
Fragrant Flowers: Yes
Foliage Color: Glossy 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 Dawn 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.
One of the most cold hardy in the April Camellia Series, April Dawn Camellia produces an abundance of fragrant, eye catching double flowers with white petals streaked in dark pink dark, and also solid deep raspberry pink to almost red flowers on the same plant. We think this one should’ve been named ‘ April Candy Cane’ Camellia as it’s streaked petals definitely remind one of a candy cane. Blooming later than others, flowers start coming in late winter and continue through April, hence the name. The striking flowers are set against a perfect backdrop of glossy, deep green foliage. April Dawn’s upright narrow form lends well to smaller spaces where other Camellia japonica varieties won’t fit.
April Dawn is listed as cold hardy as far north as St Louis, Missouri USDA Zone 6.
Landscape & Garden Uses
A moderate growing Camellia with an upright habit of growth to about 8 feet tall and 4 feet wide, April Dawn Camellia can be grown as a shrub, espalier (flat against a wall), or small tree. As a shrub, it is ideal for use as a hedge or background plant, in groupings, and is especially nice as espalier (trained to grow flat against a wall.) When “limbed up” to form a small tree it serves well as an attractive and colorful specimen in landscape borders and home foundation plantings. Great for cottage gardens, cut flower gardens and woodland borders. Also suitable for containers that can be brought indoors overwinter for those who live above USDA Zone 6a, where not winter hardy. Find Your Zone
Spacing: 3.5 feet apart for solid hedge; 5.5 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 reliably 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, fertilize, prune and water 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.
Plant Long & Prosper!
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When I received my order, I was pleasantly surprised at the packaging. Once I opened the package my plant was very healthy . What an amazing experience. Definitely will purchase again from this shop.——————————————-Thanks for the photo! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
I’ve had April Dawn at past houses and missed it so! Last year I planted what should have been an April Dawn from another website … and it wasn’t (not even close!) so a year of anticipation ended with the proverbial “gong”. So here I am, full of hope for next year with a beautiful plant from Wilson Bros, waiting for that gorgeous double white flower with pink stripes to grace the garden.
Packaging was amazing – even though Fed Ex left it sitting the wrong way up meaning one of my camellias was hanging upside down. But no worries, because of the outstanding packaging there wasn’t even loose dirt. At first I thought … are these bare root plants?? Nope, they just have it down to a science. For whatever reason I didn’t get any order, receipt or shipping emails (not in the spam folder either) until the please review email- but the plants got here in beautiful shape.—————————————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
Packaging was amazing – even though Fed Ex left it sitting the wrong way up meaning one of my camellias was hanging upside down. But no worries, because of the outstanding packaging there wasn’t even loose dirt. At first I thought … are these bare root plants?? Nope, they just have it down to a science. For whatever reason I didn’t get any order, receipt or shipping emails (not in the spam folder either) until the please review email- but the plants got here in beautiful shape.—————————————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
I have purchased many plants from Wilson Brothers, because they have such a great selection and the quality is excellent. I decided to review the April Dawn Camellia Japonica because it arrived with such glossy green leaves and a beautiful blossom! Everything I’ve purchased has arrived in great condition and has grown well. The hardest part is unpacking the plants! Be ready with pliers and patience!———————————–Our packing is how they get to you safe and sound, pliers and patience sounds about right. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! Thanks for the kind words! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
All orders received. All plants and trees in excellent shape. 66 degrees today and all planted. Exhausted. Thank you very much. More later.———————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! Thanks for the kind words! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
It has couple buds, and looks so healthy. The packing and delivery is careful and wonderful, actually the best out of all the online nurseries I have shopped so far. Will keep shopping here and strongly recommend to my friends. So exciting for my camellia!——————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks so much for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
We ordered two April Hardy camellia (3-gal) and they look beautiful. The packaging was professional and secure and the camellias look fantastic! The leaves are a healthy, shiny green and each plant has 4-6 flowers getting ready to blossom. I will definitely order from Wilson Bros again.————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
An absolutely lovely-looking specimen from Wilson Brothers. The camellia arrived with six large buds, ready to pop. The leaves are so healthy and glossy, a deep green, and the shape of the plant — slightly upright — was just what I wanted. They packed this potted shrub in such a way that there’s no chance it could rattle around or break. I’m so taken with this camellia already, I’ll order a couple more.—————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
I bought (4) Hardy Camellias in 3 gal pots. When they arrived, shortly thereafter, the pots were full of moist soil, and the bushes were all beautifully healthy. I planted them a couple of days later. Only one bush had only one bud on it, but they’re young. I expect only the one blossom next Spring, but the following year should be terrific.—————————They may put on more buds this year. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
We live in zone 6b and selected this and two other winter-blooming camellias to add interest to our front yard. The plants arrived looking great—glossy green leaves and fat flower buds. This medium tall variety is sited at the corner of our foundation with a dwarf camellia in front. Look forward to seeing and smelling the blooms soon.————————————-Hi Beth, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the April Dawn Cold Hardy Camellia Japonica. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the repeat business!!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens
Just wanted to let you know that the other three Camellias you sent arrived this week . . . and they were packaged in THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, SHIPPING-SUCCESSFUL way I have ever seen! I am an industry professional (horticulturist and landscape designer) and I have been ordering plants through the mail for over 30 years. These were just BEAUTIFULLY prepped for shipping and they arrived without a single damaged leaf.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!————————–WBG Reply: Hi Love, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the April Dawn Camellia. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the great review!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!————————–WBG Reply: Hi Love, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the April Dawn Camellia. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the great review!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens
I was very pleased with the large, healthy and well budded Camellia. It arrived well packed and undamaged. I will not hesitate to purchase from Wilson Bros. again. ————————— WBG Reply: Hi John – Thanks so much for your review of the April Dawn Camellia and for your compliments. We hope you enjoy this beauty for years to come! Let us know if there’s ever anything else we can do for you. We’re at your service! – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens

























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