Captivating Camellias

Camellia, the state flower of Alabama, is a popular flowering evergreen shrub that adds bright color to partially shaded areas in winter and early spring when few other flowers are blooming. Use them near outdoor living areas where they will be noticed. They also make an excellent hedge plant.

Camellias are broad-leaved evergreen shrubs that grow up to 12 to 25 feet tall and produce showy, rose-like flowers in a wide range of colors between white and red flowers. Camellias grow in hardiness zones 6 through 8. They prefer partial shade and rich, well-draining, slightly acidic soil with a pH level between 5.5 and 6.5.  The plants are a native of Japan and China,
and are related to the tea family of plants.

 

The plant's dark, glossy leaves and vibrant flowers make it popular for use in bouquets and corsages. While camellias are tolerant of summer's high temperatures, they require a period of cold in order to establish their blooms. Camellias are best grown in large pots and tubs, but will grow in beds as well. There are several varieties of camellias.

 

 

 

Description

Camellias produce flowers with overlapping petals that are up to five inches in diameter from late winter to early spring. The lustrous deep green leaves stay glossy year round. The plants grow slowly but they can reach a height of 20 feet when mature. Camellias are popular throughout the southeastern U.S. and enthusiasts have developed over 3,000 hybrids and cultivars in a wide range of colors.

 

 

 

Requirements

Camellias need a rich well-drained soil with lots of moisture and a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. The best location is on the west side of a wall or structure where the plant will have protection from morning sun. Plants develop leaf scorch when grown in full sun. Camellias have shallow roots and need a thick mulch help the soil hold in moisture. They prefer partial shade in warm climates and light shade in cooler regions. Camellias are hardy in United States Department of Agriculture zones 6 to 9. Insufficient watering can cause buds to drop in the summer. Protect camellias from direct sunlight and add 2 or 3 inches of mulch to preserve soil moisture.







Planting
Plant camellias between late fall and early spring. Most varieties spread 6 to 8 feet, so allow plenty of room between plants. When planting camellias as a hedge space them 6 feet apart. Plant camellias in a hole 2 to 3 times as wide and the same depth as the root ball. If the soil is heavy or compacted dig the hole wider and and deeper work in some organic material such as ground pine bark or mature compost before planting.






A frequent reason that newly planted camellias don’t survive is planting too deep. Before planting, mound loose soil or added organic material on the bottom of the hole so that the top of the root ball is an inch or a little more above the surrounding ground level. The plants will settle after planting.

After planting apply a 3 to 4 inch layer of organic mulch. Pine straw is a good mulch for camellias because it helps to acidify the soil. Do not fertilize camellias at planting time.

Winter Care

Although camellias can normally tolerate temperatures as low as 10 degrees F, a sudden dip in temperatures can damage foliage and kill flower buds. When forecasts call for a sudden freeze it is best to cover the plants, particularly any tender new buds.








Fertilization
Many people over-fertilize camellias. This results in the plants spreading their branches and developing an open growth habit that ruins the attractive compact appearance of the shrub. Beginning in the second season apply 8 to 16 oz. of cottonseed meal to each plant, or use a small amount of fertilizer formulated for camellias. Specially formulated fertilizers are available in most garden centers and discount stores. They acidify the soil and feed the plant, but they should be used sparingly.

Pruning and Disbudding

Most camellias need only occasional light pruning. After the plants bloom and before new buds form, check for dead wood to be removed and trim back where plants are losing their compact form. Look for areas of dense growth where thinning inside limbs will improve air circulation.

Gardeners who wish to maximize the size and beauty of camellia blooms may disbud a camellia, removing all but one bud on each terminal branch. This allows the plant to concentrate its resources on a select set of flowers.

Blooming

According to the Clemson University Cooperative Extension, the best time to plant camellias is from mid-October to mid-November and mid-March to mid-April. Camellia varieties bloom from fall through early spring. Early varieties, such as Pink Perfection, bloom in November, and late varieties, such as Betty Scheffield Supreme, bloom in April and May.

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Wonderful Winter Garden Containers

 

During the cold months of January and February, when the setting is bleak and the sky is gray, winter containers can cheer up the soul and provide a colorful punch to the landscape. Many gardeners give up on their potted creations in the fall, but that can be a horrible waste because winter is when color and interest are most vital.














With the holidays fast approaching, it's easy to neglect your outdoor spaces in favor of creating a festive atmosphere indoors. For easy outdoor embellishment, create this elegant evergreen planter that will not only bring holiday cheer to your home, but last the whole season long.














Creating a winter design is not difficult. The general rule for container-plant survival through the winter is to use plants hardy to at least two zones colder than your USDA Hardiness Zone; this, however, is not always a steadfast rule. Many trees, shrubs, and perennials that are hardy in your zone will live and even thrive in containers through all four seasons.









 In this case, a frostproof pot with a drainage hole is important. Fiberglass, lead, iron, heavy plastic, and stone are the best weather-resistant containers to use; terra-cotta will eventually expand and crack with repeated freezing and thawing.














Container gardening doesn’t have to stop when the growing season is over. Taking advantage of strong plants and seasonal cuttings keeps your pots going into spring.














Many people don’t consider winter a season in their gardens but there are a good number of plants that look good or interesting or attract wild life all year round. These plants generally have wintertime berries, beautiful bark, hold their structure in the harsh winter months or have great textures. Below are some ideas for plants that at least one if not many of these characteristics:





Select the Right Container Material for Winter

First select a pot that can hold up to freezing temperatures. Concrete, stone, wood, fiberglass and cast iron are good choices for winter. Avoid containers that are cracked and terra cotta because it is soft and porous. Frozen water in cracks and pores can cause the terra cotta to chip or crack. 16" sq. x 30"HSelf-Watering Cottage Planter

Cold Hardiness of Plants in Containers
Plants in containers are less cold hardy than those planted in the ground because the roots are not insulated as well. For the best results choose plants that are suitable for regions that are at least two zones colder than your own. For example, red twig dogwood is cold hardy to zone 4 so I can plant it in a container in my zone 7 garden and expect it to winter over. If you are not sure what your zone is, click here to see a cold hardiness zone map.



Using a large container will provide the roots with more soil for insulation and a layer of mulch on top will keep them extra cozy. Be sure to keep the mulch away from the plant crown to prevent rot. The crown is the area where the stems meet the soil.














Caring for Your Winter Container Garden


 

Try to pot up your container in time to give the plants several weeks to get established before the first hard freeze. Water the container once a week if the weather is dry; check on it once a month if rain is plentiful. If it gets cold enough for the soil to freeze, you can stop watering all together. Spraying evergreens with an anti-transpirant like Wilt-Pruf will help them retain moisture. Winter container garden recipe Because blooms and color are minimal in winter be bold with form and texture.







Cold Hardy Plant List

Arborvitae • Daffodil 'February Gold', species crocus & Galanthus–Tuck a few early season bulbs into your container for late winter blooms. • Deciduous hollies • Dwarf evergreen hollies • Dwarf junipers • Dwarf spruce • "Green Gem' boxwood • Hellebores • Ivy • Ornamental cabbage • Ornamental kale • Pansy • Primrose • Viola • YuccaBirch logs • Magnolia tips • Seeded eucalyptus • Ontario cedar • Red pine • Decorative mentola balls • B.C. hemlock • Italian cotoneaster What you need: Magnolia tips Cotoneaster spp. branches Red pine branches Hemlock branches White (Ontario) cedar branches Seeded eucalyptus branches Paperbark birch branches






Plow and Hearth

 

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