The best way is option #3....planted in the ground. Camellias are no less tolerant of clay than the crape myrtle is. Just dig a wide but shallow, sloped-sided planting hole and set the camellias in so that 1/3 to 1/2 the rootball is above grade. Backfill with the crumbled clay soil you have removed and then use whatever other soil or amendments you have to mound up around to the edge of the rootball, creating a little mini berm

This is the recommended method for planting anything in a clay soil without creating drainage issues yet allowing for healthy root establishment.

Just so long as you don't have alkaline soil. I don't have any Camelias now but when I did I had to grow them in containers of ericaceous compost. But if my soil were more acid I'd never bother with pots.

But digging in just under the crepe myrtle tree means ruining the roots of tree. Will it not effect the health of tree?

Don't plant them that close. Camellias grow into quite large shrubs - 12-15 feet tall and almost as wide is typical (unless pruned to reduce size, which can also affect flowering) so space them an appropriate distance away from the base of the crape. Both plants will be happier for it.

I'm wondering what you mean by cutting down the 'barren branches of the tree'. Why do you need to cut the crape? And why are the branches barren? Is it dying?

Every winter when the leaves are shed, I cut back the new growth back to the point where they started. Next year new growth again starts from the same height. Otherwise that tree will tower over the house. Also lets in some sunshine on the windows in winters.

@gardengal: Then I am in trouble. There is no space. And if I plant them away from the base then they are going to get roasted in Sun. Containers are the way to go I guess. So no flowers on the sad Camellias in containers?

You can definitely grow a camellia in a container.....for a year or two anyway :-) I grew 'Bob Hope' in a container for a couple of years before it got too large and I had to plant in the ground. And it bloomed just fine!

What types of camellias did you get? If the camellias are sasanquas, you can place them in full sun; or morning sun and afternoon shade. I have a shopping center with 10+ years old potted camellia sasanquas in full sun. They get upwards of 37C every summer but do fine with watering. If the ones you purchased are japonicas, reticulatas or hybrids then you need to find afternoon shade. I am not sure if your place of sale will allow you to return japonicas in exchange for sasanquas.

They are Japonicas. Double petaled. I have put them in pots. Let's see how they go.

Love the look of the flower on the label. If somehow I pull it off then Winter flowers are sorted. I want to make it bushy. It's late autumn here. Can I prune it to half?

What are these nodes? Buds or new growth? I am not really after flowers at this stage. But do want the plant to spread and be bushy rather than going straight up. I removed the support also. If it leans, I snip it back. Silly or will work?

This one after pruning has picked up good growth. Nice straight growth. I have now moved it to almost complete shade as the summer temperatures are now going beyond 30 degree Celsius.

This one is more on weepy side. Will leave it as it is and see if the branches stiffen up. No stakes as of now. I want them to be a small self supporting bush.

Sir refused to branch after pruning !!!. Going straight up and slightly more lime green new growth. I think it might be something to do with sunlight. All three have been put into almost shaded areas.

Question: During repotting is it possible to bare root camellia?

The colour of the new growth of is normal. Nothing to do with sunlight. Why do you want to repot them? They look very healthy. And you can get away with not pruning Camellias at all. They'll form a good looking shrub all on their own if they have sufficient light.

@floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK Repotting is atleast 3 years away given the slow rate of growth. But I did note that the roots are rather dense. Hence wanted to know what people do when potting these up. If they are potting these plants at all. Not sure about the long term feasiblity of keeping these guys in pots.

Jsut started,

Grow them in pots. Watch them in the heat of summer to see if they need water if you are going to use the fast draining mix. They will complain for water, you will see.

They can't take the afternoon sun, so don't plant them in it.

Order Foilage Pro made by Dyno Gro online. It will provide all the micro nutrients that they need to grow beautifully. Bonsai growers use it.

Stop cutting them! leave them alone, they will bush out on their own when it is time.

Pots are a lot more work then in the ground. Remember that.

Thanks for the suggestions !! Two of them are doing well. One of them is rather sad. They are in full shade as of now. Will try to move them to partial morning sun provided I have time. I will add new pics shortly.