Sparkling burgundy camellia sasanqua is among the first to bloom in the late fall and into early winter.
It’s a Southern thing, the beauty of their glossy leaves and the richness of the blossoms that bloom when everything else is going dormant.
Camellias, sometimes called the rose of winter, look much more delicate than they truly are. They can stand up to freezing temperatures with a few brown buds and blossoms to show for the dip in the thermometer. With their range of colors from pure white to deepest red, and their flower shapes that are single, semi-double, formal, peony-shaped or cupped, who wouldn’t want to have a camellia or two in their landscape?
Sasanquas do better with more sun, and they tend to be more open and airy in their growth habit. Sometimes gardeners will espalier sasanquas by attaching them to a trellis to spread the branches. Japonicas tend to be more compact and do well in part sun/part shade or full shade.
Starting in early autumn, sasanquas began to bloom. Usually covered with many buds that begin to form over the summer, sasanquas can put on quite a show. Varieties like Sparkling Burgundy, Taylor’s Perfection and the “October Magic” series are very productive. The shrubs will be loaded with blooms, causing the graceful thin branches to hang down with their weight.
As the holidays pass, the Japonicas show their colors. Larger blooms can be impressive, some measuring as large as five inches across. As with sasanquas, their blooms can be solid colors to variegated and their shapes can range from single formal to ruffled peony forms.
We had camellias in Florida where I grew up. While not known as an ideal cut flower, that didn’t stop my mom, who would pinch off the short-stemmed blooms, bring them in the house and float them in water so that we could enjoy their blossoms.
Camellias generally don’t have fragrance, but breeders these days are hybridizing for scent. One of my favorites is High Fragrance, a delicate-looking double double with whorls of petals in various shades of light pink. This hybrid and its relative Ack Scent are reliably fragrant, although the intensity can vary.
As evergreens, camellias are appealing in the landscape all year long. Their deep glossy leaves provide an excellent backdrop for spring and summer annuals and perennials. And, when everything else has tucked in for the winter, your camellias will brighten your garden and be a ray of cheer.
Because some camellias can grow as tall as 12 to 14 feet – it will take a while – they are popular as privacy plantings. Just be sure when you purchase them to check on the variety’s projected height.
Camellia care
The best time to plant camellias is in the cooler months to allow the roots to establish before spring and the summer heat. Dig a hole about twice the diameter of the root ball and work the soil to remove clumps. Add an organic soil amendment and mix in well. Gently unwind any pot-bound roots and spread them out.
Position the plant so that the top of root ball is slightly higher than ground level before you put the soil back in the hole. Water thoroughly after planting, then once or twice a week until established, being careful not to over-water.
After they’ve bloomed, you can prune the plants back as much as one-third. This will invigorate the plant, stimulate growth and reward you with a strong flush of blossoms next winter.
For more information about camellias, visit www.americancamellias.com. The site includes information about specific species and cultivars, resources for growing, how to join a local chapter and a list of cultivars for sale. It also provides details about visiting Massee Gardens, the headquarters of the American Camellia Society in Fort Valley, GA.
See camellias for yourself
Treat yourself to a camellia showplace by visiting the American Camellia Society headquarters in Fort Valley. The 9-acre garden, Massee Garden, holds an annual Festival of Camellias in February, the peak bloom season.
Additionally, consider ordering plants from Massee Lane Gardens. They typically offer a choice of varieties, but inventory varies. Pick-up is required, but providing a credit card will ensure that your choices – if in stock – will be held for up to two weeks.
Wilson Brothers mail-order only nursery in south Atlanta stocks a wide choice of camellias, both sasanquas and japonicas. They’re sold in two sizes – 1-gallon and 3-gallon pots. They sell ornamental trees and shrubs and perennials. More info: www.wilsonbrosgardens.com, 478 967-2358.
Photo: by Pamela A. Keene
