Layers of petals
The petals form full, clearly outlined rosettes that reward a close look at the beginning of spring.
Camellia 'Black Lace' Premium 15cm
Normal price
€34,00
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Camellia ‘Black Lace’
Peony look, camellia soul 🌹
- Deep blackish-red flowers
- Formal double flower form
- Dark evergreen foliage
- RHS Award of Garden Merit
Camellia ‘Black Lace’ draws the eye with flowers that resemble deep, velvety rosettes. Their blackish-red colour gains depth from densely layered petals, while dark, glossy foliage sets off each bloom. Viewed closely, every flower reveals an ordered geometry that invites you to linger. This is a camellia for anyone who enjoys striking detail and the quiet elegance of an evergreen shrub.
Its compact, upright branching gives lasting shape to an entrance or a terrace composition. A pale wall behind it helps the dark flowers stand out, while low plants with fine or silver foliage let the camellia retain the central role. Once flowering has finished, the dense crown continues to define the space.
Camellia ‘Black Lace’ holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
What makes it special
The contrast between the full flower, the glossy leaf surface and the upright branching gives this particular camellia its character.
Glossy foliage
Dark leaves catch reflections of light and keep the composition alive even when there are no flowers.
A naturally upright habit
Compact branching allows it to serve as a focal shrub without imposing a clipped geometric shape.
Why you will love it: It creates a striking spring focal point where you also want a lasting evergreen presence.
In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations A sheltered corner with room for the crown, bringing the flowers within close view.
Within close view
Give it a distinct position beside an entrance or in the middle layer of a partially shaded border, sheltered from drying winds. Keep space around the crown so that the lower flowers remain visible and branches are not pressed against a wall or neighbouring shrub.
In a group, centre-to-centre spacing depends on whether you want the crowns to meet or each plant to keep a separate outline. On a terrace, grow one camellia per pot and place its companions in their own pots.
Silver and soft texture
Choose cool, sheltered partial shade and humus-rich, slightly acid, freely draining soil. These plants share those conditions; allow room between them so that they do not compete with the camellia’s roots.
- Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ — Silver leaves with green veins brighten the lower layer in front of the dark crown. It suits a cool spot where the soil does not dry out in summer.
- Polystichum setiferum — The fern’s finely divided fronds soften the outline beside the camellia. Allow enough room for them to spread, in moist soil that does not become waterlogged.
- Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ — Arching golden-green leaves add movement in front of the shrub from spring onwards. Its winter absence lets the evergreen camellia maintain the structure of the composition.
Care at a glance
Light
Bright partial shade, sheltered from hot midday sun and drying winds. Avoid sudden early sun falling on frosted buds.
Watering
Check moisture and water before the rootball dries out. The buds for the next flowering season develop in summer.
Climate & hardiness
RHS hardiness H5. Buds and flowers need shelter from late frost and cold, drying air, even when the shrub itself is hardy.
Safety
An ornamental plant, not intended for consumption. Keep fertilisers and other care products away from children and pets.
Detailed careComplete care guideBright partial shade, shelter, acid soil, pots, watering, feeding, buds and light pruning
Shelter for the flowers
Filtered light shows off the blackish-red flowers without the stress of hot sun. On an exposed balcony, shelter the camellia from drying air and avoid spots where early sun falls suddenly on frosted buds.
Soil and planting depth
Use humus-rich, acid to neutral soil with good drainage. Keep the top of the rootball level with the surrounding soil; do not bury the stem bases more deeply. On lime-rich soil, growing in a pot with ericaceous compost is preferable.
The next pot
Increase pot size gradually as the roots develop and check that drainage holes remain clear. A large volume of wet compost around a small rootball makes watering harder to manage. During severe frost, protect the pot as well as the crown.
Water for the buds
During establishment and hot weather, check the soil beneath the surface. Water thoroughly as it begins to dry, allowing surplus water to drain away. Prolonged summer drought can affect the next flowering season; in hard-water areas, use rainwater when available.
Gentle spring feeding
Use an ericaceous fertiliser in spring, following the dose and frequency on its packaging. Apply to moist compost and avoid excessive or late-summer feeding. More fertiliser does not mean more flowers.
Pruning after flowering
Retain the naturally upright shape with small adjustments as flowering finishes, only where needed. Avoid routine hard clipping and late pruning that removes buds already formed. Remove dead or damaged branches with a clean tool.
Development over timeFrom a young plant to a mature camelliaFrom rootball establishment to a full evergreen crown and the first spring rosettes.
Roots settle first
After repotting or planting, allow the camellia time to root into its new soil. Limited early shoot extension is not a reason for hard pruning or extra fertiliser.
A dense crown develops
Woody stems produce side branches, building the cultivar’s compact, upright outline. Let lower branches contribute to its natural shape rather than training it as a small tree.
Flowers and fresh growth
Full blackish-red rosettes mark the beginning of spring. After flowering, interest returns to the leafy crown, while buds for the following year develop in summer.
Mature form & dimensions
Maturity 10–20 years
Height 1.5–2.5mSpread 1.5–2.5mCompact, upright, dense habit
Low woody branching supports a dense, upright crown; allow lateral space as the shrub matures.
Form through time
Evergreen
After floweringDense evergreen foliage
Early springLayered blackish-red rosettes
The foliage remains throughout the year. The start and intensity of flowering vary with the microclimate and the condition of the buds.
Size over time: In a suitable position in open ground it reaches about 1.5–2.5m in height and spread over 10–20 years. In a pot, growth is restricted by available root space and care; these are not the current dimensions of the plant sold.
History & origin Cultivar origin The cross, first flowering and registration
Camellia ‘Black Lace’ arose from a cross made by L. W. Ruffin in Mississippi, USA, between Camellia × williamsii ‘Donation’ and Camellia reticulata ‘Crimson Robe’, also known as ‘Dataohong’. It belongs to the hybrids with Camellia reticulata parentage; Camellia japonica ‘Black Lace’, another name under which it is sold, is a synonym used in the trade.
The original plant first flowered in 1965. The cultivar was registered with the American Camellia Society in January 1970 as no. 1129, and its description appeared in the 1971 American Camellia Yearbook. The RHS Award of Garden Merit followed in 2002.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScience nobody asked forBotanical details for anyone curious about what lies behind the plant’s appearance
The geometry of the rosette
‘Black Lace’ has been described with 130–140 strongly incurved petals, each carrying a very narrow black edge. The overlapping layers give the flower depth, while the dark edging defines each petal. No centre of visible stamens appears: its form ranges from rose-form to formal double, rather than from single to semi-double.
Frequently asked questions
Six answers about the dark flowers, a balcony position and the decisions that affect the next flowering season.
01Are the flowers really black?
They are very deep red, giving a blackish-red impression, rather than uniformly black. Shadows between the petals and changing light alter their appearance, so the same flower can look different through the day.
02When will the full rosettes appear?
This cultivar’s main flowering season begins in early spring. The precise start depends on the region, weather and bud development; it does not remain in flower all year.
03Can it stay in a pot on a balcony?
Yes, in sheltered partial shade, with ericaceous compost and free drainage. The 15cm pot is its size at sale; gradual repotting will be needed as it grows, rather than an immediate move into an excessively large pot.
04What if my garden has lime-rich soil?
Choose a pot with suitable compost so that you can better control the root environment. A small pocket of acid compost in alkaline ground is not a lasting solution; water quality also matters.
05Why do buds fall before opening?
First check whether the rootball has dried out or remains continuously saturated. Large moisture fluctuations and cold can affect buds. Avoid adding fertiliser as an automatic response, and keep the position and watering consistent.
06Should I clip it to keep it compact?
Upright, dense growth is part of its character. If a branch spoils the outline, make a small adjustment just after flowering. Hard or late clipping can remove the growth that will carry the next buds.
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Every order is prepared with care so your plant arrives upright, secure and safe.
Individual protection
Plants in pots with a capacity of 3 litres or more are placed in individual boxes that hold the pot securely and reduce the risk of tipping over.
Sturdy packaging
We use reinforced cardboard designed to protect against impacts and vibration during transport.