Camellia Gay Sue

Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
Price range: Contact Us
Rating: 4.8/5

Camellia sasanqua 'Gay Sue', often simply called camellia gay sue, is a standout variety for New Zealand gardens. With its elegant, creamy-white flowers edged in delicate pink and a lush evergreen habit, camellia gay sue is beloved for both its beauty and its resilience. Flowering prolifically from autumn into early winter, this versatile shrub brings much needed colour to the garden when few other plants bloom. Whether you’re lining your driveway, creating a flowering hedge, or searching for a showy specimen shrub, camellia gay sue offers a flood of gentle colour with minimal fuss.

Camellia sasanqua 'Gay Sue'

Camellia sasanqua 'Gay Sue' is a graceful evergreen shrub admired for its soft pink flowers and glossy dark green foliage. This elegant camellia flowers from autumn into early winter and brings colour to New Zealand gardens when many plants are fading. The lightly fragrant blooms appear in abundance and contrast beautifully with the rich foliage. Camellia sasanqua 'Gay Sue' is ideal for gardeners wanting a reliable flowering shrub with year round structure.

Camellia sasanqua 'Gay Sue'

Suited to regions:
Subtropical, Temperate
Plant type:
Shrubs
Height:
2.00 m
Spread:
1.50 m
Flowering time:
Autumn
Garden uses:
Containers, Hedging, Living areas, Parks, Pool areas, Specimen
Garden styles:
Backyard, City & Courtyard, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, White

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Why Choose Camellia Gay Sue for Your Garden?

If you’re searching for an easy-care, long-blooming shrub, camellia gay sue is an ideal candidate. This sasanqua variety is admired for its subtle scent and outstanding flower display, with upright branches covered in ruffled blooms. It grows well in both full sun and part shade—particularly useful in New Zealand’s varied conditions. Gardeners appreciate its reliable performance as a dense screen, low hedge, or as a feature shrub in mixed borders.

Like most sasanqua camellias, camellia gay sue thrives in well-drained, acidic soils. With regular mulching and a little slow-release fertiliser in spring, you’ll be rewarded with healthy, glossy foliage and abundant blooms year after year. This variety is also less prone to petal blight than standard japonicas, making it a favourite for hassle-free gardening.

Landscape Uses and Companion Planting

Camellia gay sue’s compact growth and manageable size (usually 1.5–2m high and wide) make it perfect for both small gardens and larger landscapes. Use it as an informal hedge, privacy screen, or even grown in a large container to brighten a patio. If you’re designing a camellia border, try combining camellia gay sue with other striking varieties such as Camellia 'Ballet Dancer', Camellia 'Black Lace', or Camellia 'Black Tie' for a sequence of colour from autumn through spring.

For year-round interest, pair camellia gay sue with contrasting evergreens such as Leucadendron Corringle Gold or the aromatic Rosmarinus 'Blue Lagoon'. In shaded gardens, brighten up the understorey with Azalea Autumn Embers (Autumn Embers Azalea) or Rhododendron Christmas Cheer.

Planting and Care Tips

For best results, plant camellia gay sue in autumn or early spring when the soil is warm and moist. Choose a site protected from harsh afternoon sunlight and strong winds. Space multiple plants roughly 1–1.5m apart for dense planting. Water deeply during dry spells, especially while the plant is young, then reduce frequency as it matures. An application of mulch will lock in moisture and keep roots cool.

Explore More Camellias

Discover other stunning camellia varieties to complement camellia gay sue, such as the pale lemon blooms of Camellia 'Brushfields Yellow' or the playful pink-and-white forms of Camellia 'Buttons and Bows'. Each brings its own personality to the garden, ensuring there’s a camellia for every taste.

Let camellia gay sue bring timeless elegance and reliable performance to your New Zealand garden—a blooming beauty you’ll enjoy for years to come.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.