As we head into winter, our gardens are not as colorful as they are from spring through fall, so anything with color stands out. But one plant that can make your garden really "pop" is the camellia.
Camellias are evergreen shrubs that add great color to the late fall through early spring landscape. This year they are loaded with flowers or buds.
Camellias are not as common in Arkansas gardens as azaleas, but they should be. While azaleas are a staple garden plant, and definitely worth planting, they bloom for 3-4 weeks in the spring and they are done. Camellias, on the other hand, can bloom for months in a season when not much else is vibrant, and they have nice glossy foliage the rest of the time.
There are more than 100 species of camellias that grow wild in Asia, but there are only a handful of species commonly grown and sold in the United States. While we may not have as many species to choose from, there are more than 20,000 varieties and crosses that have been grown by professionals and amateur growers, with new introductions every year.
For the past 20 years we have seen an increase in varieties that are more cold tolerant. Camellias have often been thought of as a tender, Southern belle of a plant only suited to the lower South or the "Camellia belt." Gardeners in the northern tier of Arkansas counties shied away from planting them.
Now there are varieties that are hardy even up into more northern states.
The most cold-tolerant species of camellia is the tea-oil camellia -- Camellia oleifera. Breeders crossed that variety along with C. reticulata and C. sasanqua to create showy hybrids that are registered with the American Camellia Society and will survive winters that get as low as minus 12 degrees or lower.
"Winter's Charm," "Snow Flurry" and "Polar Ice" were some of the first hardy varieties, and there are many others today, including the Ice Angel series, the April series and more. There are choices for fall bloomers and late-winter/spring bloomers.
BIG OR SMALL
For years, the two most common types of camellias in Arkansas gardens were either Camellia sasanqua, which blooms in the late fall to early winter and has smaller leaves and blooms or Camellia japonica, which blooms in the late winter to early spring, with larger foliage and showier blooms. Today there are many hybrids with a plethora of flower forms, so do your homework before buying.
Depending on which species you grow and which variety, not only will mature plant size vary, but so will leaf and flower size, along with color and form.
Camellia flower colors range from shades of red, pink and white with many bicolor blends as well. The flower form can vary tremendously by species, with singles, semi-doubles, doubles, rose, peony and anemone forms.
Some camellias can grow quite large, becoming small trees. So know the mature size of a variety before you decide to take it home.
HOME BREW
A camellia that is gaining in popularity (thanks to the "locally grown" phenomenon) is the tea camellia, C. sinensis. This camellia is not nearly as showy as the other two, producing small white blooms in the fall, but an added bonus is you can make your own tea.
Many tea drinkers have no idea that the tea they drink (whether green, black or oolong) comes from the leaves of a camellia that would grow easily in the southern two-thirds of Arkansas. Boutique tea farms are popping up across the South, and some gardeners are trying their hand at brewing their own tea.
While the plants are still not a ready commodity at nurseries, I think you will find them beginning to enter the market -- and they are available through mail order or at flower and garden shows in the spring.
WHAT THEY LIKE
Camellias do best in a rich, well drained, acidic soil. They prefer filtered sunlight or morning sun and afternoon shade. They will live in heavy shade, but you won't see many blooms, and in full sun, they can experience sunscald and will be subjected to fluctuating temperatures in the winter.
Camellias need ample moisture during the first few years of establishment, but once established, they are actually fairly drought tolerant. If we have an extremely dry summer, they would benefit from supplemental water; but if they get overly dry, they simply won't set as many flower buds. They are much tougher than azaleas, which are a common companion plant for them.
Camellias are fairly easy to maintain once they get established. Fertilize using an acidic fertilizer once a year in the spring -- after bloom is finished and all winter weather is over.
After they bloom is also the time to do any needed pruning. If needed, it is best to selectively prune branches, which will leave you with a more pleasing shape and a full canopy instead of the sheared results from an electric hedge trimmer.
Choose plants that will fit the mature size your landscape accommodates, and you won't have many pruning chores. Camellia varieties range from mature plants that top out at 2-3 feet in height to 15 feet or taller.
TROUBLESHOOTING
Bud drop can be a problem with some varieties, but can occur on all types depending on the growing season. Because camellias bloom during the fall and winter, they are susceptible to all the fluctuating temperatures we have in Arkansas -- one day it is 80 and the next day it is 20. Freezing weather can cause buds to drop on the less cold-hardy varieties, and plants are particularly sensitive when flowers are opening or showing color.
Long periods of hot, dry weather in the early fall can cause buds to drop off if supplemental water is not given.
If you have late-blooming types and we have a really mild winter and early spring, new foliage growth can begin to grow, which can cause the flower buds to fall off before they open, a problem called "bull nosing."
With so many differently named camellias on the market, selections will vary from nursery to nursery, and northern Arkansas nurseries should carry the hardier varieties. Read the tags, and find out the eventual size and bloom period.
While it is common to plant camellias in the fall and early winter so you can pick flower color, gardeners in the northern tier of Arkansas may want to wait and plant in early spring. Even though many of the newer varieties are more cold tolerant, winter tolerance will be better with an established root system.
Plant camellias in the right place, and they can be an excellent addition to your garden for many years. If your garden has room, choose several different types with different blooming times to expand your bloom season, then you can have camellias blooming from October through April.
HomeStyle on 12/15/2018