Espalier a Camellia

Choosing an Espalier Plant

When choosing a camellia to espalier, look for plants at your local nursery and garden center with open, sprawling growth and several leading branches.

Where to Plant A Camellia Espalier?
Camellias prefer afternoon shade, and enjoy some protection from cold winter winds, so plant them on the east or south side wall of a home or structure.

How to Attach A Camellia to a Wall?

Trellis Support: You can use a trellis for support however, keep in mind that if it's a wooden trellis, it may eventually rot. Metal, steel or PVC trellises are recommended. Many camellias can grow taller than 10 feet in height. Keep this in mind to determine what size camellia and what size trellis will be needed to fill the space.

If you are not using a trellis, as your camellia plant grows taller against the wall, the branches will need to be attached and secured with some sort of clips and ties.

Geometrical Patterns: If you want to create a geometrical pattern, or symetrically spaced rows, you can run a galvanised wire in any shape desired. Then, as your camellia grows, simply attach branches to the wire with tie wire.

Direct Attachment: When not using wires or a trellis, branches can also be attached directly to a wall using an eye screw anchored into the wall with plastic plugs. Then, using tie wire, attach the branch to the eye screw. Ties are needed about every 8 to 12 inches along branches for more formal designs. Sometimes they might have to be loosened and adjusted as the plant grows.

Prune your camellia espalier regularly to achieve the flat, two-dimensional effect which is characteristic of all espaliers, but leave any major pruning until flowering has finished in fall or spring, depending on what type of camellia you are growing.

Training a camellia for a formal espalier may take some time and patience, but the end result is fabulous.