Camellia Mania!!

The camellias are in bloom and it’s time to select them while they are blooming and plant them while the weather is still cool.  Better than fussy roses, and more long-lived than most shrubs, camellias are queens of the southern garden.

Pink Perfection

     General info:  Camellias are lovely evergreen shrubs or small trees which come originally from China.  The two major types of camellias that are commonly seen in gardens are c. japonica and c. sasanqua.  Japonicas have larger, shinier leaves and larger flowers than sasanquas, and bloom in the spring.  Sasanquas bloom fall – winter, and can take more sun.  Otherwise, the care instructions are the same.  Most camellias do not have a fragrance, although some scented hybrids have been developed in the last several years.   Camellias may live for more than a century.

      There are six commonly recognized flower forms:  single form, semi-double, anemone form, peony form, formal double form, rose form double (flower opens to reveal stamens).

     They can be used as single specimen focal points, or as a privacy hedge when planted close together, and can also be trained as an espalier.  Small varieties can be used as a ground cover.

Marie Bracy

      Planting:  Choose a planting site with well-drained soil and a pH of 4.5 - 6.5.  Partial or dappled sunlight, or afternoon shade is best.  Filtered shade under pines is considered ideal.  Do not plant where shade trees with shallow root systems will compete with camellias for nutrients and water.

      Dig a hole at least two feet wider than the root ball.  Rough up the root ball if tight, to allow better penetration into the soil.  The top of ball should be slightly above soil level.  After planting, water well and mulch with straw or other organic matter.

     Fertilizing/Watering: Soak once a week during dry weather, but camellias don’t like ‘wet feet’.  Once well-established, they do not require a lot of water.  They will live without fertilizer, but will perform much better if fed on a regular schedule.  Fertilize with an ‘acid’ type fertilizer in March, May, and July.

     Pruning:  Pruning can be done to re-shape as needed or to invigorate an old plant.  Pruning should be done after blooming, but before new buds have developed.

Japonica Varieties that we have now:

Blood of China: Deep salmon red, medium sized flower with compact growth habit.

            Carter’s Sunburst: (variegated) Spectacular, double, medium pink blooms streaked with deeper pink. Flowers range from semi-double to peony forms to formal doubles on the same plant.

            Debutante:  Large peony form blooms are a clear light pink.

            Don Mac:  semi-double dark red, crepe-like flowers are exquisitely ruffled and feminine. Each semi-double bloom has a yellowy crown of stamens in the center.

            Dr. Tinsley:  This variety looks more like a wild rose than a camellia. The semi-double blooms are soft pink with deeper shaded edges.

Professor Charles Sargent

            Kramer’s Supreme: Very large red blooms are lightly fragrant and arrive in early spring. It has a very strong upright habit.

            Laura Walker: (variegated) The large blooms are bright red with an anemone form and a small amount of white marbling. It is a vigorous grower with a narrow, compact habit.

            Morning Glow: White double flowers with overlapping petals and no visible pollen anthers in the center.  Slow growing, but a vigorous plant.

            Pink Perfection:  Pale pink, formal double type with petals that overlap and contain no stamens.

Prince Eugene Napoleon: Dark rose to red color, it has formal double flowers and is known by many other names, including 'Pius IX', 'Rubra Plena', 'Imbricata' and 'Ladiner's Red'.

Professor Sargent:  Dark red peony flowers and a vigorous, care free growth habit. This selection has abundant and prolonged flowering.

            White Empress: Very large, semi-double white flowers with bright yellow stamens



Sasanqua Varieties that we have now:



Bonanza



            Bonanza: semi peony form; deep red with yellow stamens; stays small



Cotton Candy:  Dense, spreading evergreen shrub with relatively large semi-double pink flowers, scented and ruffled and with a lot of petaloid stamens.

Kanjiro:  Cerise pink, gold stamens, semi-double form

Shishi-Gashira:  The amazing magenta pink of the flower petals have lively yellow centers look like little pompoms and pop against the gleaming green foliage.

Stephanie Golden:  Hot pink semidouble with yellow anthers & filaments.

Yuletide:  Small, single, brilliant fiery red blooms are centered with bright yellow stamens. It features an upright habit and blooms around Christmas.