Camellia 'Bob Hope' (Bob Hope Camellia) care

Light

Camellia 'Bob Hope' is what florists mean by "bright spot, no direct sun" — close enough to a south or east window to feel the brightness, with a sheer curtain or a few feet of distance keeping the sun off the leaves. Grow in dappled shade or bright indirect light — a sheltered north- or west-facing wall is ideal in the UK and Pacific Northwest. Morning sun is beneficial; harsh afternoon sun bleaches blooms and stresses foliage. A phone lux-meter at the leaf surface should read 1,500-3,000 lux at noon.

Watering

Water camellia 'bob hope' when the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 7-10 days during the growing season. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Consistent moisture is critical during bud development in autumn and early winter — irregular watering at this stage causes bud drop. Use lime-free water (rainwater preferred). Reduce frequency in midsummer but do not allow the root ball to dry out.

Soil and pot

Camellia 'Bob Hope' grows best in acidic, humus-rich, free-draining ericaceous compost or soil. Requires pH 5.5-6.5. Work in generous amounts of leaf mould or composted pine bark when planting in the ground. In containers, use a quality ericaceous compost refreshed annually. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Camellia 'Bob Hope' sits happiest at around 50-65% humidity and 2-24°C (35-75°F). Appreciates moderate humidity typical of UK and Pacific coast gardens. In conservatories or dry indoor settings, grouping with other acid-loving plants or using a pebble tray with water helps maintain ambient humidity. If you keep the room above 2 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed camellia 'bob hope' sparingly. Apply a granular ericaceous fertiliser in early spring as new growth breaks, and a liquid ericaceous feed monthly through summer. Cease feeding by late summer to allow growth to harden before the first frosts. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on camellia 'bob hope' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Bud drop — The most common complaint; caused by drought stress during bud set (late summer to autumn), root disturbance, or sudden cold snaps; water consistently and avoid moving plants in autumn.
• Petal blight — Brown, water-soaked flower patches from Ciborinia camelliae fungus; rake up and dispose of fallen flowers and petals promptly — do not compost.
• Yellow leaves (chlorosis) — Iron or manganese deficiency in alkaline soil; treat with sequestered iron chelate and check soil pH.
• Vine weevil — Notched leaf margins and wilting indicate adult or larval feeding; apply pathogenic nematodes (Steinernema) to the root zone in late summer.
• Aphids on new growth — Soft aphid colonies on spring shoots; blast off with a strong water jet or apply insecticidal soap, avoiding open flowers.

Companion plants

Camellia 'Bob Hope' pairs well with Pieris, Rhododendron, Skimmia, and Leucothoe. These are species with similar light and water needs, so you can group them in the same room or on the same shelf and water as a batch.

Propagation

Take semi-ripe cuttings 8-10 cm long in late summer, wound the lower stem, dip in hormone rooting powder, and insert into a 50:50 perlite/ericaceous compost mix. Bottom heat at 18-21°C aids rooting, which can take 10-14 weeks. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Camellia 'Bob Hope' is pet-safe. The ASPCA lists Camellia (common camellia, Camellia japonica) as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses. Ornamental camellias pose no known poisoning risk, though any plant can cause mild stomach upset if a pet eats a large amount. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Camellia 'Bob Hope' deep-dive guides

Every aspect of camellia 'bob hope' care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Common camellia 'bob hope' problems & fixes
• Camellia 'Bob Hope' watering schedule
• Camellia 'Bob Hope' light requirements
• Best soil mix for camellia 'bob hope'
• Camellia 'Bob Hope' fertilizing guide
• When to repot camellia 'bob hope'
• How to propagate camellia 'bob hope'
• How to prune camellia 'bob hope'
• What's eating my camellia 'bob hope'?
• Camellia 'Bob Hope' growth rate & size
• Camellia 'Bob Hope' cold hardiness
• Camellia 'Bob Hope' temperature & humidity
• Is camellia 'bob hope' toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is camellia 'bob hope' toxic to cats?
• Is camellia 'bob hope' toxic to dogs?
• All 30 Camellia varieties
• Getting camellia 'bob hope' to bloom

Featured in these plant shortlists

Camellia 'Bob Hope' qualifies for 10 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best pet-safe houseplants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — every one verified against the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.
• Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
• Best humidity-loving houseplants — Houseplants that thrive in a bathroom, kitchen, or by a humidifier — selected by documented humidity preference.
• Best flowering houseplants — Indoor plants grown for their blooms — selected from the flowering species in Growli’s plant-care library.
• Best pet-safe flowering plants — Flowering houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — colour and blooms in a pet home, without the worry.
• Best pet-safe plants for bright light — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and happy in a bright, sunny spot — safe plants for your best-lit windowsill.
• Best pet-safe large indoor plants — Big, floor-standing houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — a statement plant that is safe around pets.
• Best houseplants for a cool room — Houseplants that tolerate cool conditions down to about 10°C — for an unheated spare room, hallway, porch or a home kept cool.
• Best cat-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats (and dogs) — safe greenery for a home with a curious cat.
• Best dog-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to dogs (and cats) — safe greenery for a home with a curious dog.
• Browse all 30 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Camellia 'Bob Hope' is also commonly called Bob Hope Camellia or Japanese Camellia 'Bob Hope'.

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