EVERY time that you brew up a pot of tea, you are using the dried leaves of Camellia sinensis but, of course, the poor plant never gets a chance to flower because of the continuous harvesting of its leaves and shoot tips.
However, the more ornamental species and hybrids are the ones that we all love in our gardens at this time of year. There are over 250 species and countless hybrids, mostly fully hardy but with flowers that are a little prone to damage from spring frosts. If planted in an rich, organic, acid soil in a West, North West or South West aspect, away from early morning sunshine, most Camellias will thrive. Ensuring a constant supply of moisture in summer with adequate supplies of potassium will help to guarantee good flower bud formation from one year to the next.
The two main species that we find supplying us with the large majority of our hybrids are Camellia japonica and Camellia x williamsii. There are six different flower forms to look out for:- Single, Semi-double, Anemone form, Peony form, Rose form double and Formal double. The two main pest problems for Camellia growers are the adult vine weevil that eats pieces out of the edges of the leaves and the Scale Insects that leave a sticky honeydew deposit on leaf surfaces on which then grows a sooty mould that turns the leaves black.
Two of my personal favourites are C. j. ‘Elegans’ and C x w. ‘Water Lily’, both with rose pink flowers. There is one strange pure yellow flowered species called Camellia nitidissima that requires cool glasshouse protection all year round.
To find out more about Camellias, contact Keith Sprague of the International Camellia Society on 01727 825908.
