Carter's Sunburst Camellia
Best evergreen shrub for adding vibrant, early-season color to shady gardens.
Discover the Carter's Sunburst Camellia, a stunning evergreen shrub celebrated for its spectacular double blooms. These flowers boast medium pink petals artfully streaked with deeper pink, offering vibrant color from late winter into early spring. This plant thrives in shady conditions, making it ideal for milder climates. It serves beautifully as a standalone specimen or can be massed to create a lush privacy screen. Reaching a mature height and spread of 8 feet, it requires moderate watering and prefers organically rich, well-drained, acidic soil. Prune lightly after flowering to maintain its shape.
$59.99
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
61
/ 2693
#61 in Plants
Price vs Category Average
+37%
Above average
Mature Height
8
/ ft
Who it's for
- Gardeners seeking a striking, unique focal point for winter landscapes
- Homeowners wanting vibrant color during the dormant winter months
- Landscapers needing year-round formal structure and evergreen screening
Who should skip it
- Gardeners in regions with alkaline soil conditions
- Impatient gardeners looking for rapid growth and immediate maturity
- Residents in climates with harsh sun or extreme freezing temperatures
Performance breakdown
Bloom Visual Impact
Striking double petals provide a high-contrast focal point for winter gardens.
Shade Tolerance
Thrives in low-light environments where many flowering shrubs struggle to bloom.
Year-Round Structure
Evergreen foliage maintains a lush, upright presence throughout all four seasons.
Maintenance Ease
Requires minimal pruning and moderate watering once established in the landscape.
Soil Specificity
Demands acidic, well-drained soil conditions for optimal health and growth.
Privacy Utility
Dense growth habit creates an effective, attractive natural screen for gardens.
Key Specs
Mature Height
8 ft
Mature Width
8 ft
Hardiness Zone
08
Light Needs
Filtered sun, Full shade, Partial shade, Partial sun
Water Needs
Moderate
Soil Type
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Well-drained
Growth Habit
Upright
Features
- Spectacular double blooms with pink streaking
- Provides early season color
- Evergreen foliage for year-round interest
- Ideal for shady areas
- Suitable for screens and specimens
- Perennial lifespan
- Upright growth habit
- Requires acidic soil
What customers say
Customers consistently praise the exceptional quality of the Carter's Sunburst Camellia, noting its robust health and careful packaging upon delivery. The primary appeal lies in the plant's reliable performance and stunning, unique sunburst coloration, which often exceeds expectations once established. Gardeners appreciate its hardiness and successful transition into the landscape, confirming Monrovia Growers delivers a premium, dependable product. This camellia is viewed as a worthwhile investment for those seeking vibrant, long lasting floral design elements.
Know before you buy
This camellia is quite versatile regarding light. It thrives in everything from full shade to partial sun, making it an excellent choice for brightening up darker corners of your garden.
Yes, it requires organically rich, well-drained, and acidic soil. If your native soil is alkaline, you may need to amend it or use a fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants to ensure healthy growth.
Since the Carter's Sunburst reaches a mature width of 8 feet, you should space them approximately 6 to 8 feet apart if you want them to eventually grow together into a dense, continuous screen.
Yes, it is an evergreen, meaning it will retain its foliage throughout the year. This provides consistent structure and greenery in your landscape even when the plant is not in its late-winter blooming phase.
You should prune lightly immediately after the flowering season ends in early spring. Avoid heavy pruning later in the year, as this can remove the buds that will produce next season's flowers.
The Carter's Sunburst Camellia is rated for USDA Hardiness Zone 8. It is best suited for milder climates where extreme winter freezes are not a regular occurrence.
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$60