Governor Mouton Camellia Shrub

A Winter Showstopper in Red & White

Governor Mouton Camellia brings timeless Southern charm to the landscape with unforgettable blooms that look hand-painted by nature. Its medium-sized, semi-double to loose peony-form flowers emerge in rich oriental red, often accented with unique white splashes, making every bloom slightly different from the last. Flowering through the mid-season, this vigorous evergreen adds brilliant color when much of the garden is still resting, while its glossy, dark green foliage provides year-round structure and beauty.

With its naturally upright growth habit, Governor Mouton is an excellent choice as a specimen shrub, privacy screen, or foundation planting where its dramatic blooms can take center stage. Thriving in partial shade and well-drained, acidic soil, this long-lived Camellia rewards gardeners with decades of reliable performance and elegant winter-to-spring color. Whether you're creating a classic Southern garden or adding evergreen interest to a shaded landscape, Governor Mouton delivers heirloom beauty season after season.

Planting & Care

1. Planting: Plant in an area with some shade - any location that gets about 3 to 6 hours of sunlight per day and is well-drained.

Dig a hole that's about two to three times the size of your plant's rootball, place your Camellia, and backfill the soil.

If you're container planting, select a pot that's about twice the size of your shipped container and ensure it has drainage holes. Use organic soil and place your plant.

2. Watering: Feel the soil every few days. If the soil is dry about 3 inches down, then gently give your Camellia a bit of water. Allow the water to soak into the soil as you pour.

3. Fertilizing: Fertilize your Camellia in the spring after the flowers have dropped. Using a soluble fertilizer for acid-loving plants once or twice a month in spring and mid-summer is best.

4. Pruning: After your blooming season has ended, you’ll want to remove any dead or weak wood (a gray tinge to the bark is an easy way to identify dead branches). Thin out the growth a bit as well.