The landscape use of Camellia japonica can be greatly enlarged by carefully selecting varieties that will extend the bloom season.
A major portion of the camellias grown outdoors in the South bloom in late winter and are termed mid-season varieties.
Even in the larger plantings and collections, one does not find any great number of very early or very late varieties. This results in a comparatively short flowering season (especially in the smaller plantings).
However, there are a sufficient number of early and late-blooming sorts to give quite a long season of bloom.
Some varieties normally begin flowering in July, and others open successively every week—until late March or early April. Planting time is now!
There is a marked lack of consistency and constancy in the blooming proclivities of the different varieties of camellias and the individual plants.
In one season, a certain variety may show its first flowers in January, while in the next season, with temperatures approximately the same, the first flower may be weeks earlier or weeks later. This lack of consistency must be kept in mind in planning any outdoor planting of camellias.
Arekishi
Of the early group, AREKISHI, DAIKAGURA, HIGH HAT, JOSHUA YOUTZ, and SEPTEMBER MORN are suggested. AREKISHI is a medium-sized, rose-red, peony form.
It sometimes opens its first flowers in July and is considered possibly the earliest of all Camellia japonica varieties.
Daikagura
The leaders of the fall-bloomers are DAIKAGURA and its descendants. This camellia usually opens in September or early October, but do not be surprised if it holds back some of its buds to give you Christmas flowers.
The blooms are large, of peony form, deep rose, marked with white. HIGH HAT, the pink sport Of DAIKAGURA, created quite a stir when it was introduced a few years ago, and is now one of the most prized camellias.
Joshua A. Youtz
Just recently, JOSHUA A. YOUTZ, a white form of DAIKA CUBA, was introduced. The blooms are pure white, have full peony form to formal double, and are even larger than the parent.
The foliage, growing habits, and early blooming tendency are approximately those of DAIKAGURA.
September Morn
A comparative newcomer to the list of fall-blooming camellias and one that is exceptionally lovely is SEPTEMBER MORN.
The flowers are large, semi-double, white with a faint blush of pink at the base of the petals. It can usually be counted on to bloom during September.
Debutante
DEBUTANTE will usually show open flowers in November and bloom sparingly well into the spring. The medium-sized flowers are of the loveliest pure pink and full peony form.
It is a favorite wherever grown, and many consider it one of the loveliest of all camellias. DEBUTANTE is a fast grower and the plants are far above the average in vigor.
Mid-Season Group
When we get to the mid-season group, the gardener has quite a wide range for selection; just a few leaders in the different colors will be mentioned here.
Of the whites, I especially like:
- DUCHESS OF SUTHERLAND, a large semi-formal, semi-double pure white with one petal—always one and no more—marked with a narrow stripe of pink
- K. SAWADA, a medium-sized, imbricated white
- WHITE EMPRESS, which has very large, irregular, semi-double flowers of great beauty
- The newer CLOWER WHITE is an immaculate white fast becoming a great favorite. It is somewhat formal but a flower of strong appeal.
Variegated Mid-Season Blooms
Of the variegated forms for mid-season bloom, two old ones could not be omitted from any list of good camellias.
First is ELEGANS (formerly CHANDLER ELEGANS), an exceptionally strong grower requiring less attention than the average camellia. The flowers are large, of peony form in cherry-red-to-pink With white variegations.
The other is HERME, which is on my grounds and stands colder than any other camellia I grow. Flowers are of medium-to-large size, of white and pink variegations, with petals margined with white.
GOVERNOR MOUTON, NAGASAKI, LADY JANE GREY, and DONCKELAILA are other fine mid-season, variegated varieties.
Mid-Season Pinks
Mid-season pinks would include the new C. M. WILSON, a pink sport of ELEGANS, possesses all the fine characteristics of the parent except that it is a solid, soft pink. MAGNOLIAEFLORA has a dainty bloom.
Flowers are large, semi-double, deep, rose-tinted at the base but fading to light blush at the tips. BESSIE MORSE BELLINGRATH, named for the wife of the founder of Bellingrath Gardens, is a large, semi-double white with a faint pink blush – a flower of exquisite loveliness.
MATHOTIANA (also known as PURPLE EMPEROR and PURPLE DAWN) would lead the list of mid-season reds. It is huge, dark red, and develops a purplish tint as the blooms mature. JARVIS RED is a deep, blood-red semi-double flower with golden stamens.
It is one of the most popular of the older varieties. PROFESSOR C. S. SARGENT has solid Crimson blooms, very thick and of peony form. It is one of the old varieties, yet a good one, IMPERATOR, one of the largest of camellias, is the fastest grower in our collection.
The flowers are huge, of peony form and a deep, rich red. Due to the resemblance in flower formation. It is sometimes called a glorified PROF. SARGENT. Of the newer mid-season reds, I like BEAU HARPE and JOSEPH PFINGSTL.
Late Varieties
Of the late varieties, ELIZABETH and CANDIDISSIMA are good ones to grow. A leading late red is BLOOD OF CHINA (formerly called VICTOR EMMANUAL).
Flowers are very large, of peony form, deep red, and of exceptional beauty. COLONEL FIREY is another good late red. It is fully double and of a glowing rich crimson color.
Late Varieties of Variegated Colors
Among the late varieties of variegated Colors, I especially like MATHOTIANA VARIANT, much like MATHOTIANA except that each flower shows a mottling of white; and VILLE DE NANTES, a large semi-double, dark red blotches with white.
Late Pinks
Of the late pinks, BESSIE McARTHUR, a large semi-double, clear pink is outstanding; ELEANOR HAGOOD is also a beautiful late pink but it is sometimes bad about dropping buds.
There are numerous other varieties, of course, dud may be used to fill in the season of bloom. Those mentioned are merely offered as a guide.
44659 by Ben Arthur Davis