curly lady camellia

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

Looking for a unique camellia to add architectural charm and floral beauty to your garden? The curly lady camellia (Camellia 'Curly Lady') stands out as one of the most eye-catching shrub varieties available in New Zealand. Renowned for its elegant, twisted cascading branches and striking blooms, this plant offers an enchanting focal point for gardens, courtyards, or containers. Whether you're a seasoned camellia collector or new to garden design, curly lady camellia delivers graceful shape and captivating colour across multiple seasons.

Camellia 'Curly Lady'

Camellia 'Curly Lady' is a unique evergreen shrub admired for its beautifully shaped pink blooms with distinctive twisted petals. Flowering from late winter into spring, it adds charm and personality to New Zealand gardens when colour is most welcome. The glossy green foliage provides year round structure, making it an excellent choice for feature planting, hedging, or brightening sheltered garden spaces with elegant seasonal colour.

Camellia 'Curly Lady'

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

More species and varieties of Camellia

Popular Evergreen Shrubs

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring Camellia or Evergreen Shrubs.

Search Camellia 'Curly Lady'

Unique Features of Curly Lady Camellia

Camellia 'Curly Lady' celebrates both foliage and flower. Unlike standard camellias, the curly lady camellia boasts sculptural, curly stems that arc and spiral in unexpected directions. In spring, it produces delicate, semi-double or single blooms—often in shades of soft pink to rich rose—with glossy, deep green leaves.

A relatively compact shrub, curly lady camellia typically reaches heights of 1.5–2 metres, making it perfect for modest-sized gardens or as a standout specimen in larger plots. Its unusual growth habit makes it particularly suitable for container planting or bonsai, where its twisted branches are showcased to full effect.

Planting and Care Tips

Curly lady camellia thrives in semi-shaded spots, sheltered from strong wind and midday sun. Plant in well-draining, acidic soil rich in organic matter—mulching with pine needles or bark helps retain moisture and keeps roots cool. Water regularly during dry spells, especially in the first couple of years after planting.

Pruning is minimal; simply remove dead or damaged wood after flowering to maintain the shrub’s shape. Fertilise with a camellia-specific formula in late winter to encourage healthy growth and abundant bloom. Regularly check for pests such as scale and mites, treating with organic controls as needed.

Landscape Uses for Curly Lady Camellia

Curly lady camellia is an exceptional choice for adding visual interest in mixed borders, specimen plantings, or courtyard gardens. Its sculptural form pairs beautifully with other shade-loving shrubs and provides contrast alongside straight-branching camellia varieties, such as Camellia 'Ballet Dancer', Camellia 'Black Lace', or Camellia 'Brushfields Yellow'.

For year-round structure, consider underplanting with glossy foliage plants like Euonymus 'Tom Thumb' or pairing with New Zealand natives such as Olearia dartonii and Coprosma Winter Wine (Mirror Bush). In formal gardens, groupings can be enhanced with companion camellias like Camellia 'Black Tie', Camellia 'Buttons and Bows', or the classic Camellia Nuccio's Jewel.

Why Choose Curly Lady Camellia?

Curly lady camellia’s sculptural branches and radiant blooms make it a showstopper for creative garden designs. Its versatility—from patio pots to woodland borders—ensures year-round interest and lasting beauty. If you appreciate camellias with a twist, this playful yet elegant shrub deserves a space in your garden. Explore other complementary shrubs like Murraya Sweet Privacy to round out your planting scheme and create a lush, harmonious setting.

Let curly lady camellia bring artistry and allure to your New Zealand garden this season.

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.