Thursday, December 29, 2011

Show Your Southern Flare

Plant of the Month:  Camellia Sasanqua


     When I think of a southern garden, two plants come to mind: magnolia and camellia.  Not all of us have the room for the magnificent magnolia, but don’t feel like you are settling for a camellia.  Camellias have been stealing the show in the garden for the past two months.  While leaves have been dropping as fast as the thermometer, the camellia has been wowing us with its winter blooms.

     The sasanqua camellia can tolerate quite a bit more sun then camellia japonica.  Sasanquas bloom in November and December.  Even when the blooms are gone, you are left with beautiful dark evergreen foliage.  Many of the older, established homes have large, beautiful camellias worked into the landscape, but they seem to be missing from many of the newer neighborhoods.  Such a shame, as these spectacular plants deserve a place in every garden.  The sasnquas range in sizes from short to tall and colors vary from white to pink to red, and sometimes a mix of all three.  There is also a variety which works wonderfully as an espalier on a wall.  So there is really no excuse for not having one in your yard. 

     Camellias have a beautiful natural shape and do not require a lot of pruning.  If it is pruned, be sure to do it shortly after blooming, as it sets its buds for next year.   Insect problems can be scale which will cause the leaves to turn yellow and fall off or spider mites which will cause the leaves to turn bronze and speckle.  These can be treated.  Proper planting and drainage can help prevent diseases associated with camellias.
      So make a New Year’s resolution to show off your southern flare and make your Northern friends envious by planting a camellia.

9 comments:

  1. Thank you! Magnolia and camellia are very popular in our area. Shame on me, but I don't have them in my garden. My excuse is that there are so many these beautiful plants are around, including in my neighbors' gardens. Your article may change my mind. I certainly can find a space for a couple of camellias.

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  2. This fall I moved a sad, elongated, small camellia, away from the dry darkness under an eve, out into the light. I have hope for it now. I don't recall the variety-- single white, blooms about November. But now I have hope, which is to say I am a gardener. Crazy us.

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  3. They are absolutely the queens of Oct-Feb in Charleston, SC, thats for sure. I'm in the process of buying a few new ones myself this year :)

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  4. Is this early for the camellias to be blooming? I'd hoped to get out to NC and other East Coast states to see them blooming in March, but I guess I'm going to be disappointed!

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  5. I'm envious of gardeners who can grow Camellias. They are so beautiful.

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  6. Beautiful for sure, but my excuse for not growing them is that they prefer acidic soil, and I don't have it and am not willing to go through the heroic efforts it takes to make them happy -- kind of like gardenias and azaleas. I think the sasanquas are a little more forgiving of our soils, so may give one a try sometime. My neighbor has had one for years and it seems to do well. For now I will admire them from afar on your blog :-)

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  7. What a beautiful sight for the eyes on a cold snowy winter day. I am in camellia envy right now. I wish I could grow them here. I might have to take a chance on a zone 6 one. They say we are now a zone 6 but I would differ with them on certain years. LOL! All three are so beautiful but the red double is just flat out gorgeous.

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  8. I love camellias, and am trying to find more shade in my garden so I can plant more! Good information. I would love to see one espaliered!

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  9. Camellias are one of my favorite plants. I love the name of your blog!

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