Pink Icicle Camellia is an upright evergreen shrub with glossy leaves that stay medium green year-round.  The large irregular peony-formed clear pink flowers with golden stamen bloom in early spring attracting butterflies.  Best blooms occur in partial sun and acidic, well-drained soil.  

MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Medium maintenance. Too much water retention can increase susceptibility to fungal diseases, including root rot, black mold, blight, canker, anthracnose, and leaf spots.  Watch for aphids and spider mites.   Yellowing leaves indicate acidity too low. Fertilize monthly in spring and summer. If desired, remove all but one bud from each cluster to increase the size of the flower. Prune immediately after flowering.

LANDSCAPE USES: Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Woodland Gardens, Wildlife Gardens, Naturalized Areas, Screening, Foundation Plantings, Hedges, and Containers.

COMPANION PLANTS: Honeysuckle, Japanese Painted Fern, Lungwort

Image: Photo by David J. Stang, Camellia japonica Pink Icicle 12zz, CC BY-SA 4.0