Re: Camellias
ccopp@jps.net wrote:
> I'm not sure whose note I'm responding to--someone who wished they could
> grow camellia sinensis. I'm growing it and it's the easiest of the many I
> have (two enormous japonicas that predate my ownership, several lovely
> sasanquas and the one that's fragrant (sorry, I'm not finding it's Latin
> name in my book, but Berkeley Hort has a quite nice one--tiny leaves and
> tiny flowers that smell like apple blossoms). I'm the one that wrote in a
> few months back with a question about the seeds the camellia sinensis was
> getting, and hope to go out and pick off young leaves soon to dry for tea.
> I'm in the Oakland Hills, and it's growing in a fairly shady area and gets
> more neglect than anything. It's growing wonderfully well.
>
> Carol
Hi Carol:
The camellia with the tiny flowers that smell like apple blossoms is either
C. luchuensis or C. saluensis. They're both re-discovered species camellias
enjoying a new popularity in Southern California gardens. Slow growing, low
spreading shrubs, but wow! when they bloom, the scent comes to you from
across the garden. Here, they are offered by Nuccio's Nursery in Altadena.
The new Higo camellias from Japan are also being planted by adventurous
gardeners. They have dense and compact growth with single open flowers and a
wide flaired brush of stamens, reminding one of a Japanese line drawing.
And, yes, tea itself grows well here. C. sinensis blooms in fall with small
white fragrant blossoms.
Jan
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Jan Smithen, gardening teacher
California Arboretum Foundation
jansmithen@earthlink.net
Sunset zone : 19
USDA zone : 10
Visit the California Arboretum homepage at :
http://www.arboretum.org/
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