Camellia Plant
The Camellia Plant, An All Around Performer
The camellia plant, Theaceae, is native of Asia. One of the characteristics of the plant is the very large number of varieties available. In this respect, raising camellias is a little like raising dahlias or tulips. You have many choices of blooms and colors. And just as is the case with dahlias and tulips, there is a national society, the American Camellia Society, dedicated to the growing and propagation of the plant. Camellias are also a very popular flowering plant in the British Isles. In spite of its immense popularity however, camellia breeding is still in its infancy. As is the case with other plant types, despite an ever increasing number of new varieties, there remain many old favorites which find themselves in the same gardens year after year.
The camellia plant needs well-drained soil and, while sun loving, as is the case with most garden flowers, does not tolerate hot sun well. In fact, it is not uncommon for camellia leaves to suffer from bouts of sunburn. If you do plant camellias in full sun, the root system must be kept cool, and adding a couple of inches of mulch around the roots is always a good idea. Once plants become established, their foliage will often offer sufficient protection to the roots. Planting in partial shade, or out of reach of the hot late afternoon sun, is often the best approach.
Camellias also do not like conditions of hot or drying winds. On the other hand, if such conditions are not prevalent, the plant can usually survive on rainfall alone, although watering would be needed during prolonged dry spells. Most camellia shrubs respond well to shaping by pruning. Some varieties however, do not tolerate heavy pruning. The fact is, there is quite a bit of variation among different types of camellia plants in terms of blooming period, tolerance of climactic conditions, and growth habits.
Some varieties grow as rather compact shrubs, attractive even when not in bloom. Other varieties are lanky or wavy, and can be quite unattractive when out of bloom. Certain varieties prefer warm climates, while other varieties don't seem to mind. Some varieties bloom earlier than others, and in general, the early blooming varieties are not good choices in areas having cold and wet springs. There are many camellia plants, probably the majority, which can go almost anywhere in the garden, but some varieties look best when standing alone. This is particularly true of the taller varieties.
Camellias are generally terrific for corsages, though again, some varieties are better suited for this use than others. Still other types of camellia plants are excellent for borders, and even as ground cover.
The message is, if you want to grow camellias, you have a very large number of choices. Chances are, if you buy from a nursery, you'll get a plant that is adapted to your particular area. You still may want to ask the nursery owner or an employee about the growth habit of the particular plant you're looking at, so you won't be in for any surprises. Of course, a surprise now in then isn't always bad, but you don't
want to plant a camellia at the back of the garden, expecting a shrub several feet high, only to find out that what you've actually planted is an excellent ground cover. All things considered, the camellia is a beautiful plant indeed.