You probably know that camellia blooms are beautiful, but did you know they also work well as cut flowers? Their soft layers of petals and lush leaves create a simple yet stunning bouquet, whether you arrange on their own or pair them with other flowers. If you want to create a mixed bouquet, check out some of my favorite flowers that pair well with camellias.
Flowers That Pair Well With Camellias in Bouquets and Vase Arrangements
1. Anemone
Since camellias have such delicate layers of petals, they pair well with other soft and romantic flowers. Anemones also have thin petals but are on single skinny stems rather than woody branches, which creates enough of a difference to be interesting.
Since the anemone doesn’t have much foliage, pairing it with camellias can help balance out a bouquet. We like to keep the anemone and camellia blooms at a similar height and tuck in longer eucalyptus or myrtle stems for some texture.
2. Hellebore
If you want to make a bouquet using only flowers from your garden, it can often be difficult to find flowers to pair with camellia. That’s because they usually bloom before garden favorites like peonies, roses, and sunflowers.
However, hellebore and camellia plants often produce flowers at the same time. And this makes them an obvious pairing!
Since camellia flowers are typically larger and more pronounced than hellebore blooms, we recommend using a few hellebore stems for every camellia flower. This will help create a balanced bouquet.
3. Chrysanthemum
While camellia flowers have layers of large overlapping petals, chrysanthemums often have many smaller petals layer on top of each other. There are many different mum varieties, but decorative and spider types pair exceptionally well with camellias.
You can choose either of these flowers as the main bloom and add a few of the other as an accent flower. Or include close to equal amounts of each flower for a soothing bouquet.
You can also play with smaller pom pom mums to add a cute feel to your arrangement.
4. Flowering Quince
While not many plants produce flowers at the same time as camellias, many woody trees and shrubs flower during the early spring. And the flowering quince is one of my favorites!
This plant grows as a somewhat scraggly shrub, but its simple pink or red flowers are gorgeous. They have five tender petals and bright yellow stigmas and stamens.
Try cutting a few quince and camellia branches of different lengths and tucking them in a wide-mouth vase. The result will be a bouquet that’s a bit wild but beautiful nonetheless.
5. Spirea
Spirea is another early-blooming flower that looks good with camellias both in the garden and in the vase. These two flowers contrast nicely, with the camellia’s large and smooth flowers coupled with the spirea’s many small, textured blooms.
Just like there are many types of camellias, you can find many different spirea varieties. We like variations on Spirea alba, which has elongated branches covered in many tiny blooms. Tuck a few of these into a camellia arrangement to add some height and a cascading effect.
Since both camellia and spirea have thicker stems, it’s best to use a taller and wider vase for stability.
6. Veronica
One of the tricks of making attractive bouquets is to layer different textures, shapes, and heights. Remember, a bouquet is three-dimensional!
Camellia bouquets can sometimes appear plain to the flower’s flat shape. Mixing in tall spikes of veronica flowers can help add dimension to your camellia arrangement. Plus, veronica comes in many different colors, including purple, pink, and white.
7. Euphorbia
When you first take a look at euphorbia, also known as spurge, you might think it’s all leaves. However, if you inspect closer, you’ll realize this plant produces cute little green flowers.
No matter the case, euphorbia looks exquisite tucked into camellia bouquets. It adds some welcome texture but isn’t so loud that it overpowers the camellia’s delicate petals.
Try experimenting with the heights of both camellia and euphorbia branches until you find a combination you’re happy with.
8. Delphinium
Delphinium is another plant that produces tall flower spikes that pair well with camellias. However, since these flowers are quite showy, you’ll want to be careful not to overwhelm the softer camellia flowers.
One tip is to cut the camellia stems so they’re a bit longer than the delphinium. That way, the camellia blooms can sit just a few inches below the top of the delphinium flowers.
9. Lily
Along with mixing up flower sizes, it’s also a good idea to include differently shaped flowers in the same bouquet. Pair the round camellias with trumpet-shaped lilies for an interesting arrangement.
There are many different types of lilies, and many of them look good with camellias. Some options to try out include Easter lilies, Asiatic lilies, and oriental lilies.
Since these two flowers are such different shapes, you can arrange them so the blooms sit at the same level. That way, the bouquet will be intriguing without becoming too much.
10. Snapdragons
A classic cutting flower, snapdragons add height to camellia bouquets. And since they come in practically every color, you can find a snapdragon that is just the hue you like!
Consider arranging your bouquet so the camellia flowers sit at a few different heights; that way, the snapdragon flowers will blend in better with the round blooms. Since these two flowers look so different, it may also help to mix in some greenery.
Flowers That Pair Well With Camellias FAQs:
When Do Camellias Bloom?
Camellias bloom sometime during the late winter or early spring. The exact bloom time depends on the species and cultivar.
How Long Do Camellia Flowers Last?
Camellia flowers should last for a few days in a vase. Keep them in a cool place and use a flower preservative to extend their life.
When Should I Cut Camellia Flowers?
The best time to cut the flowers is the morning before it gets hot. Just make sure the flowers aren’t frozen before you cut!
Can I Include Foliage from Camellia Plants in Bouquets with Other Flowers?
Camellia foliage can be included in bouquets with flowers. It can serve as a backdrop to highlight the other flowers and add depth and texture to the arrangement. Make sure to select healthy foliage and trim the stems properly.
Are there any Considerations for Arranging Camellias in Bouquets?
When arranging camellias in bouquets, there are a few considerations to keep in mind:
- Cut the stems at an angle: Trim the stems at a diagonal angle before placing the camellias in the bouquet. This allows for better water absorption, helping the flowers stay fresh for longer.
- Remove excess foliage: Remove any foliage that would be below the waterline in the vase. This prevents the leaves from decomposing in the water and keeps the bouquet cleaner.
- Balance the arrangement: Pay attention to the camellia blooms’ size, shape, and color when arranging them with other flowers. Create a balanced composition by distributing the buds evenly and considering the overall aesthetic you want to achieve.
Wrapping Up
Adding camellia flowers to your garden will not only provide outdoor color, but it will also provide a gorgeous cutting flower.
For more, see our in-depth guide on the meaning and symbolism of camellias, growing Camellia flowers in California, camellia deer resistance, and discover our favorite types of red, yellow, white, and pink camellia flowers.
Briana holds a B.S. in Plant Sciences from Penn State University. She manages a small market garden where she grows vegetables and herbs. She also enjoys growing flowers and houseplants at home.
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