Re: Camellias

Date:          Fri, 19 Feb 1999 19:10:12 -0800
From:          Janet Smithen <jansmithen@earthlink.net>
Reply-to:      jansmithen@earthlink.net
To:            ccopp@jps.net
Cc:            medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
Subject:       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
--
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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/
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dear Carol & Jan,

Higo camellias are great. I have about 20 different varieties, mostly 
bought because I first saw them in Stirling Macoboy's book on 
camellias. They are not so easy to get here as most camellia 
nurseries are still heavily reliant on Japonica and Reticulata types 
for their sales and won't venture into 'new' old types, tho' they do 
stock a good few of the new species hybrids. I find these too reliant 
on high summer humidity and summer watering to thrive here. But the 
Higos and old Japonica vars. do very well, and I have some good 
species - C. grijsii is my favourite, dark green deeply veined 
(rugose) leaves, masses of white scented flowers. I once had a 
fabulous Japonica called KAKUREISO (I think it was actually a 
Nuccio's hybrid that was given a Japanese name because it has single 
flowers, cherry red with a broad white border and a stunning golden 
tube of anthers and pollen sacs. I'd give my eye teeth to be able to 
get it again and would even consider the huge cost of importing and 
putiing the plant through quarantine. 

It is too early for Camellias yet but they are budding up very well. 
The sasanquas will be great, as usual. We don't water any of our 100 
or so vars. and get no rain from mid Summer (late December) until 
late April (end of Autumn) - 4 months of heat and drought. Two of our 
plants are 'trees' planted about 1846, we drive under one to get 
down our driveway! The rest are mostly about 20 yrs old and with few 
exceptions have done well. I have weeded out the less satisfactory 
performers such as the Elegans Chandlerii forms Champagne etc which 
make poor growth and always hang their heavy flowers - gorgeous 
individual blooms, yes, but best for the gardens of  exhibitors. I 
prefer those vars. that shed their spent blooms quickly and cleanly; 
those that hang on and turn brown infuriate me. One of our 'trees' 
ROSEA SUPERBA does this but we keep it because it is huge. The 
Wiliiamsii hybrids also are very messy plants here and I don't 
especially like them. DONATION we keep because it was a gift from a 
friend when we first bought the place but WATERLILY comes close to 
getting the chop every year because it always balls and 'pops' off 
its pointed bud centres mid-bloom opening. The shrub looks shocking 
when this happens - as it does every year.
The Japanese know a thing or two about selecting camellias for 
gardens. They never just go for the most stunning flowers but always 
select on the basis of good growth habits, good foliage cover, 
interesting folaige shape (and variegation, which I'm less 
enthusiastic about) and flowers which are attractive and shed 
cleanly. I've even had a few Japanese vars. that were selected 
because they have huge, and interesting, seed pods.
Do you know Wabisuke camellias? These are the vars. of very small 
flowered types that are grwon in the gardens of Tea Houses, and in 
Tea Gardens where the tea ceremony is observed. I have a half dozen. 
Some are tiny thimble shaped blooms, others are double, flat like a 
tiny sasanqua and some are slightly larger like one might imagine a 
'wild' Japonica camellia to look.
Then there are the weeping forms like KINGYO TSUBAKI (Gold Fish Tail 
leaves) - really pendant rather than weeping, HAKUHAN KUJAKU 
(Peacock's Tail) - really weeping form and also has very narrow 
leaves, and RED W ILLOW - a sasanqua with strongly weeping form.
Great plants Camellias, even for Mediterranean gardens.

regards

trevor n.
-----------------
Trevor Nottle
Garden Writer, Historian,     
Lecturer and Comsultant 
       
    'Walnut Hill'                          
     5 Walker St       
     Crafers SA 5152 
     AUSTRALIA

Phone: +618 83394210
Fax:   +618 83394210
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