Frances, if you can tell me the approximate area you are in I can better answer your question. Keep in mind, that gardening zones have changed based on data from more recent years and that many areas have moved from zone 6 to zone 7. I know that I have mine planted on the southwest part of the house--they are shaded in the spring, summer and fall by a Japanese Maple but have full sun in the winter. Mine started to bloom in December this year and is still in bloom! I have others that are on the shaded eastern side of the house. Those, have leaves that are greener but because the site is cooler, they still have not come into bloom. The ones growiing on the Southwest side are growing strong but I do notice that one has color that has a faint bronze shade to it--due strong winter sun. When it gets more shady after the deciduous tree leaf out, the color does seem to get greener. They are fairly easy in most of NJ actually--assuming you are not in a more mountainous/colder region. I feed them fertilizer for acid-loving plants. One more thing, don't know if they are an issue in your area, but deer will eat camellias (leaves, and flowers). Remember, they are in the tea family and in a bad winter, they'll be one of the few smaller bushes that is everygreen.

I have around 100 in the ground, C. sasanqua as well as C. japonica. Most are in part to full shade; some under deciduous canopy, others near conifers, and others around broadleaved evergreens. A very few are near the house. Many (even standard varieties)tolerate some wind if the roots don't freeze. I would be more concerned with keeping the roots from freezing than with wind. Mulch heavily from early December to March. Burlap can be used in exposed areas.