Gardening with Gael: Camellias are an old favourite

13 July, 2022

There is nothing more cheering on a cold, miserable winter’s day than to open a book on camellias. It is camellia article time of year and I never tire of them. I am trying to track down small sasanqua camellia with a bright dark pink double bloom. I think it might be called ‘Adorable’. Twice I have received it as a gift, once for our original house and once for the Block. In both places it grew well, brightening the winter with a splash of colour, and grew very well with minimal care.

Camellias are not demanding – some compost, an acidic soil, some mulch and occasional water in the summer is all they need while at the same time rewarding the garden with glossy green leaves and a variety of blossom in the winter.

Most complaints I hear are about the fallen blooms looking untidy under the plant. Mow them up, spread mulch over them, or throw them in the compost. Throwing on a layer of pine needles maintains the acidity.

Most camellias prefer some shade, especially here in the north. Further south, especially in the Waikato region, camellia hedges are abundant. I think the foggy, damp weather often experienced there is ideal. With careful planning we can grow a good hedge here in the north as well. Camellia sasanqua is the variety to choose. Their leaves are smaller and the growth habit is compact. Most grow to between 1.5 and 2 metres high. There are some beautiful new varieties worth mentioning.

Camellia sasanqua ‘Early pearly’ is extremely popular. Flowering from autumn through winter this is considered a top performing variety. The flowers are typically small and a double white. Camellia sasanqua ‘Setsugekka’ is a strong growing variety ideal for hedges. The flowers are white and have single petals. Most large camellia shrubs that can be seen flowering at the moment are usually Camellia japonicas.

I do not have room to list the varieties. Outside my old house I had a group planting of pink and white camellias which, now they are flowering, I realise I will miss. Fortunately I have been able to source some of them. Just the variety ‘Margaret Davis’ to find. This camellia has the peony-style bloom that I love. Camellia japonica Margaret Davis has white petals edged in rose pink. On our way home (from our recent South Island trip) I bought Camellia japonica ‘Nuccio’s Jewel’ at Wairere Nursery. Another peony form, this japonica has white flowers irregularly blushed with a strong pink.

Yesterday Mitre 10 just happened to have the very hardy variety of Camellia japonica ‘Desire’. This glorious camellia has a formal double arrangement of petals, white with an exquisite blush of pink on their edges. Well named as it is very desirable.

A third variety of camellia has a wider more spreading habit. The branches have a more pendulous form. Camellia reticulata has the largest flowers and can be the most spectacular of all the camellias. Some begin blooming as early as May. My Palmers Garden Guide cites the variety ‘Captain Rawes’ as being in cultivation since the 17th century.

And then there are the hybrids...to be continued.

Camellia japonica ‘Desire’ is beautiful with its dense petals and blush pinks.

PHOTO/GARDENIA.NET