Camellias

Camellia Varieties

Camellias are great garden plants with well known varieties including the species Camellia sasanqua, C. japonica and the ‘Tea Plant’ C. sinensis.

They come in a range of plant forms and camellia flower types also vary greatly.

Camellia varieties

• Camellia Japonica is a well known ornamental species from China and Korea. 
• Camellia sasanqua is a sun loving camellia that makes a great hedges or hedging plants. 
• Camellia sinensis is the tea of commerce, grown widely for the young leaves that are picked and dried. 
• Camellia Higo are related to camellia japonica but rare in Australia.
• Camellia Reticulata has large flowers, again not widely found in Australia.
• Camellia species number at over 250

Camellia japonica

The ‘Japanese camellia’, camellia japonica are very popular for the masses of flowers, for care and pruning of camellia japonica.

Camellia sasanqua

The sun loving camellia, well suited to sunny position and great as a flowering screen or hedge or use Camellia sasanqua as a stand alone specimen plant.

Camellias as Hedges

Camellias make great hedges, although slow growing they make a dense screen, flowering and great glossy foliage. Cammellia hedges require little pruning and care once established.

Camellia are versatile as a specimen plant, evergreen background in a border or use camellias as a hedge or screening plant. All camellias like a well drained moist soil with lots of humus as well as a cool root run, so compost and mulch are great. Camellia reticulata prefer a part shaded position, camellia japonica prefers part shade but can handle full sun in some areas, can be clipped into a hedge. More Winter Flowering Plants

• Camellia varietiess have been popular with gardeners for centuries, in particular in China and Japan.
• Long flowering season, nice glossy foliage and are fairly disease resistent.
• Once established camellias are fairly drought tolerant.
• Easily clipped to form a flowering hedge.
• Camellias grow well in pots.
• They can be trained, pruned or even espaliered so they can fit in almost anywhere.
• Sasanqua Camellias are tolerant of shady positions, but do best in part shade to full sun depending on climate, and with brilliant flowers can liven up darker parts of the garden.
• Flowers come in many colors, from white throught to dark reds, including pink mauve, yellow and even multicolored.
• Flowers come as both singles and doubles.
• Camellias have a mild sweet fragrance.
• Foiliage if very popular as ‘backing’ with florists.
• Camellia flowers are often ‘floated’ in a bowl of water.
• They will grow from 2m to 15m depending on species.
  2-3m(Camellia lutchuensis)
  5-6 m (Camellia sasanqua)
  10-15m (Camellia Japonica)
• Tea comes from ‘camellia sinensis’
• Camellia kagirohi, Camellia petelotii, Camellia flava, Camellia rubriflora,Camellia fraterna, Camellia pubicosta, Camellia tamdaoensis, Camellia amplexicaulis and Camellia cucphuongensisisare newly discovered yellow flowering species discovered in Vietnam, not readily available in Australia.

Camellias are available for sale from the following participating nurseries.

MUSKER'S at BROUGHTON HALL Rare Plant Nursery - ph 0417056110
125 Palmer Rd Jindivick 3818
Open Thursday - Sunday 10am - 4pm
Specialising in growing and selling Rare and Unusual Trees, shrubs Perennials Bulbs and Climbers, a unique nursery with amazing stock.
www.muskersbroughtonhall.com.au

GARDEN EXPRESS - phone :1300 606 242
470 Monbulk-Silvan Road Monbulk VIC 3793
"Guaranteed mail order flowering bulbs, perennials, roses, trees, landscaping plants, garden accessories and community fundraising Austra lia-wide."
www.gardenexpress.com.au

TESSELAAR BULBS - Phone: 1300 428 527
357 Monbulk Road SILVAN VIC 3795
Guaranteed "garden worthy" bulbs, plants and perennials. Visit the website to browse our large range of daffodils or request the latest free catalogue.
www.tesselaar.net.au