Autumn Rocket Camellia

A narrow, upright camellia that opens armfuls of bloom in autumn — when most of the garden is winding down.

The Autumn Rocket Camellia (Camellia sasanqua 'Autumn Rocket') is a fall-flowering evergreen prized for its distinctly columnar shape. Where most camellias spread wide, this cultivar grows tall and slim — 8 to 10 feet high but only 3 to 4 feet across — making it one of the few camellias that fits a tight planting bed or a narrow side yard. From early through mid-autumn it covers itself in single to semi-double blooms set against glossy, deep-green foliage that stays handsome all year. The neat, vertical habit and cool-season flowers give it a presence few other shrubs can match in October and November.

Why growers choose the Autumn Rocket

• Fall color when you need it. Blooms arrive in autumn, bridging the gap between summer perennials and the bare months of winter.
• Truly narrow habit. At 3 to 4 feet wide it slips into spots a typical camellia would outgrow — perfect for screening without sprawl.
• Year-round evergreen structure. Lustrous dark foliage holds through all four seasons, giving the garden form and privacy even out of bloom.
• Sun tolerant. Unlike many shade-loving camellias, sasanqua types like this one take full to part sun, opening up more places to plant it.
• Pollinator-friendly. The open-faced fall flowers are a welcome late-season nectar source for bees on mild days.

Use it as a slender evergreen screen along a fence or property line, as a vertical accent beside an entry, in a mixed shrub border for autumn interest, or in a large container on a patio where its fall flowers can be enjoyed up close.