Camellia (kah-mel’-i-ah) – Evergreen shrubs and trees, a native of China and Japan, belonging to the Tea family, Theaceae.
They are prized for their handsome glossy-green leaves, showy, single, semi-double and double flowers, adapted for outdoor cultivation in the milder parts of the United States.
The Latin name, Camellia, honors the Moravian Jesuit missionary and botanist George Joseph Kamel.
There is such a vast difference in the beauty and habits of various camellias that the home gardener who has “got the bug” should have some help before collecting them. The camellia is an evergreen shrub with glossy green leaves, which, during the winter months, bears single, semi-double, or fully double flowers in white, pink, … Read more
Where: Location Planting When deciding where to plant a camellia, several leading factors must be considered. These should be determined before considering what might be termed local or personal problems. Matter of Color One factor is the matter of color. Generally, varieties bearing red flowers will tolerate more sun than those with white, pastel, or … Read more
This is the story of an adventure that led to the discovery of 15 spectacular Reticulata camellias in that land of ancient horticultural skills, Yunnan, China. But first, a small introduction to and a brief description of these hybrids, startlingly lovely in every way and a new departure in camellias. Aside from the interesting, if … Read more
Camellia sasanqua is one of the most rewarding plants that can be grown, and gardeners who cannot offer this species a congenial environment outdoors can at least enjoy specimens thriving in pots or tubs. Potted Sasanquas flower when small, often when scarcely a foot high, and the charm of these graceful shrubs with their delicate … Read more
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 … Read more
Scientists tell us that more than 40 species of scale insects feed on some part of the camellia plant. Fortunately, few of these will be encountered by the average camellia grower, but as with any pest, these few may prove very disastrous. Scales may quickly rob a plant of its vitality and render it incapable … Read more
If you grow camellias now in your greenhouse and you’d like more of them, here are some pointers to keep in mind about propagating them. I have been growing camellias in my Oregon greenhouse for 10 years, and I have found the following method a good one for propagating the following: Camellia Cuttings You can … Read more
In the one-acre garden of Mrs. G. C. Shackelford at Columbus, Georgia, there are over 150 camellias that have been collected and cared for over the years. Some older plants are 6’ to 7’ feet tall and as much as 6’ feet through. They are planted along Mrs. Shackelford’s property’s boundaries and balanced along the … Read more
I was first bitten by the insidious camellia bug 16 years ago. My wife was responsible. She asked me to drive her to Charleston, S.C., to get a debutante. Until then, I had thought a debutante was a well-bred young woman about to make her bow to society. As our son was just 2 years … Read more
If you’re looking for flowering shrubs with brilliant foliage to brighten up your garden and landscape, Camellia will suit you well! Camellia spp., known by its common name Camellia, is a garden-favorite flowering evergreen shrub belonging to the genus Camellia and a member of the Theaceae or the tea family. The Theaceae family has over … Read more