It’s obvious why they call this camellia ‘La Peppermint’. The fully double blooms have white and pink stripes similar to the popular candy. It’s an old French variety from the 19th century that I am thrilled to have in my garden.

Like other camellias ‘La Peppermint’ prefers a slightly acidic soil in a spot that is protected from direct sunlight. Feed with a fertilizer blended for camellias right after the blooms fade. The insect pest scale can be an issue. You’ll see them on the underside of the leaves. To manage scale, spray the foliage with an insecticidal soap or dormant oil. Now, the camellia characteristic that you need to be aware of is that they do best in mild climates, particularly these japonicas. And if you think about it, mine blooms in February and March, but I also can grow them in a greenhouse, and they’ll begin flowering actually around Christmas.