October Magic Ruby Camellia

October Magic Ruby Camellia

October Magic® Ruby Camellia is a compact, fall-blooming selection of sasanqua camellia, Camellia sasanqua, with a dense, rounded habit that stays semi-dwarf without regular shearing. Its pointed, leathery leaves are a glossy deep olive green and keep their color through winter, while new spring growth emerges a lighter green. Plants grow slowly into a multi-stemmed mound about 3–4 feet tall and 4–5 feet wide, with branches carried close to the ground.

From mid to late fall, the shrub carries fully double, peony-form flowers 2–3 inches across in deep ruby red, with gold anthers at the center. The blooms open over several weeks, after most of the garden has finished flowering, and pollinators visit them on mild days. Outside of bloom, the dark evergreen foliage gives year-round structure, whether the plant is used as a low hedge, a foundation shrub, a mass planting or the centerpiece of a large container.

This camellia grows in full sun to partial shade and accepts shadier spots, though shelter from hot afternoon sun and drying winter wind keeps the leaves and flower buds in better condition. It needs acidic to neutral, well-drained soil rich in organic matter and does not tolerate standing water or alkaline soil. Established plants handle short dry spells and some salt exposure, but steady moisture through summer helps keep the developing flower buds from dropping.

Care Instructions:

Planting: Plant in spring or early fall in a spot sheltered from winter wind, setting the top of the root ball slightly above the surrounding soil.
Soil: Prefers acidic, organically rich, well-drained soil; work compost into heavy clay and avoid low areas where water collects.
Watering: Water deeply once or twice a week through the first year, and continue during summer dry spells while next season’s flower buds are forming.
Fertilizing: Apply a light feeding of azalea and camellia fertilizer in late winter or spring according to label directions; scorched leaf edges are a sign of too much.
Pruning: The compact habit needs little pruning; if shaping is needed, trim lightly in early spring after flowering ends and before new growth begins.
Spacing: Space plants approximately 4–5 feet apart; at the closer spacing, neighboring shrubs will meet and form a continuous low hedge.
Maintenance: Keep a 2–3 inch layer of mulch over the root zone, pulled back from the stems, and check leaf undersides for scale insects, a common camellia pest.

Gardeners choose October Magic Ruby Camellia for red flowers late in the year, when few shrubs bloom, on a plant small enough for entry beds and large pots. Its slow, compact growth keeps upkeep to a minimum, and the glossy foliage looks neat in every season. It performs best on the east side of a building or under high tree branches, where it receives morning sun, protection from winter wind and evenly moist soil.

Landscape Solutions:

• Fully double red flowers bring color to the garden in fall, after most shrubs have finished blooming.
• Its 3–4 foot height fits beneath windows and along foundations without frequent trimming.
• Glossy evergreen leaves form a low hedge that holds its shape and color through winter.
• Its compact size makes it a long-lived centerpiece for a large container on a porch or patio.
• Tolerance of partial shade suits it to beds beneath high-branched trees where many flowering shrubs bloom poorly.