Knowledge from Olle Garden Bed: Winter Blooming Flowers Planting
For those who live in warm climates in the south and the Pacific Northwest, camellia is a familiar sight growing in the garden. These plants are highly prized for their winter beauty, as most gardens are colorless. The following content also has some reference value for raised garden beds.
Evergreen leaves and bright, cheerful flowers are welcome at the dull times of the year. This is why we sometimes call them winter roses. Camellia is also a prolific flower. They have a misunderstanding that it is difficult for them to grow.
If you want to see how easy camellia is, let's start planting and taking care of this wonderful plant.
What is camellia?
Camellia is related to other tea trees in the tea family. They are native to East and South Asia, including Japan and Indonesia. These plants are used to make tea, especially camellia varieties.
There are about 220 varieties and more than 3000 hybrids, all of which are evergreen shrubs or small trees.
Camellia has been cultivated and appreciated in Japan and China for many years, and then appeared in European countries. Because of the tea trade, they are believed to have spread to all parts of the world.
10 Best Camellia Choices
Camellia has many different species, cultivated varieties and hybrids, but here are some stars you may need to consider. Most species available to family gardeners are C. japonica rice.
- Sasanqua plants usually bloom from October to December. They like sunshine and big flowers. These are fairly hardy and typically thrive in the USDA hardy 7-9.
The flowering period of japonica rice is from January to March. They prefer warmth and a little shadow. These grow best in areas 7-10.
- First appearance
"Debut" is a perfect choice if you want bright colors in the winter garden as long as possible. The flowering time from October to May is very long. It applies to areas 7-10. In zone 7, you need to provide winter protection.
In areas 8 to 10, protection is not required.
With this japonica rice variety, you will get beautiful light and dark pink flowers on dark green leaves up to 12 feet high.
- High fragrance
As we all know, camellia has no fragrance. But "high fragrance" has been developed to have dark pink flowers, which remind people of roses and jasmines.
This hybrid vehicle is four to six feet high and is a perfect choice for small areas. In Zone 7-10, the "high fragrance" is cold resistant and blooms in late winter and early spring.
- Kramer's Supreme
When the winter garden is dull, "Kramer Supreme" is a popular distraction, bright red flowers from November to at least March.
Best suited for areas 8 to 10, this japonica rice variety will grow to about 6 to 8 feet tall and have a round habit.
- April Dawn
For those who like a lot of flowers and colors, "April Dawn" is for you. The lovely white flowers and dark pink embellishment give you a huge candy bag color flower wall. This evergreen display can grow up to eight feet tall and the flowers are about four inches wide.
The colorful display starts from the end of winter and continues to the end of spring.
"April Dawn" is a cold tolerant japonica rice variety, which grows in the 6-9 zone, unless the temperature is lower than 10 º F. Then it needs some protection.
- White beside the gate
If you live in Zone 7-9 and like pure white flowers, please choose "White by the gate". Many camellia have a trace of color when the flowers are white, but this japonica rice variety is pure white.
Provide shade and plenty of water when young. The older specimens have considerable drought tolerance when covered.
Planting anytime during November to March when the weather is cool.
- Moon Shadow
This is a tall plant, which grows to 10 feet high. The flowers on this sasanqua are gorgeous: think of white flowers, dark pink edges, and gradually fade as the color moves toward the center of the flower.
Delicate pink meets yellow stamens, surrounded by dark pink. Planting in the sun dappled space of Zone 7-9, or try to use espalier molding.
- Brood
Bright red flowers and amazing yellow stamens attract pollinators in winter. This is the "Christmas" you will get.
This evergreen variety of Sasangkwa is grown in Zones 7 to 10. It grows to about 10 feet high. You can even use this variety as a colorful winter hedge.
- Jordan's Pride
The japonica rice "Herme" is 12 feet tall and is a large plant. Flowers appear between January and March. Planting in Zone 7 to Zone 9, and consider shaping Jordan's pride (usually called) into a tree shape.
The dark green leaves contrast sharply with the light and dark pink striped petals of the flowers.
- Bloomfield
This is a spring blooming japonica rice variety, up to 12 feet high and 6 feet wide. As one of the camellia growing in Zone 6, if the weather is mild, bright red flowers will appear in winter, or in early spring when it is warm.
- Shishi Gahira
Hot pink and flounces are the best way to describe the blooming of a four to five foot tall "stone pestle".
You can see flowers for six months in a year under appropriate conditions, and even plant this sasanqua variety in a very happy pot. Just make sure you trim its shape once the last flower disappears.
From Zone 7 to Zone 10, you will get bright pink flowers in autumn and throughout winter.
How to breed camellia
Be sure to buy camellia from reputable sellers. Most good sellers have plants to plant outside, and they usually store specimens that are cold resistant enough for your area.
You can also breed camellia yourself. To save money, or just because it's easy, get cuttings from multiple plants and see what you'll get eventually.
Once the bark turns brown, remove six inch cuttings from the new spring growth and make them stronger than when they were green. Use a clean, sharp separator.
Just below the cut in node, so your cut may be just over or just under six inches.
Remove all leaves except the first three. Carefully cut them in half through the leaves.
Immerse in rooting hormone.
Push the cuttings into the growth medium you choose. I only use breeding soil or potting mixtures.
You can place three or four inserts in a six inch container. Cover it with plastic bags to keep the environment moist.
Keep the soil moist. Within three months, the root was examined by gently pulling the incision. If resistant, plant where you want shrubs to grow. Be sure to cut and harden them for a few days before putting them in the garden.
How to care for camellia
According to different varieties or cultivated varieties, camellia grows in 6 to 10 areas.
Planting in spring gives plants time to build their roots before the cold weather starts.
The soil should be organic and rich, with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. The soil must be well drained but retain sufficient moisture.
Provide mottled sunshine from the afternoon sunshine. The morning sun can burn delicate flowers if they are still covered with dew and water and you live in a hot area.
Check the specific requirements for specific plants, because some plants prefer full shade or more sunshine, although most plants can tolerate sufficient sunshine.
Avoid the wind, because the buds are very tender.
Soils should be kept moist, although once established, they can tolerate some drought.
Fertilizing and pruning camellia
Camellia is a heavy eater, but you should only feed them twice a year. One is formed as a bud in autumn, and the other is opened as a bud in winter or spring. Use natural general food or food specially made for camellia.
Synthetic fertilizers can damage shrubs and cause buds to fall. Too much fertilizer can also cause this.
In summer, cover the plants with decaying feces or compost. You can also sprinkle a little blood and bone around the plants before the early spring buds appear.
If you do not have the correct soil pH for these plants, you will need to modify the soil annually with aluminum sulfate.
Most camellia do not need much pruning because of their pleasant shape. If you trim to shape, trim immediately after flowering. In this way, you will not affect next year's flowers. Always remove any damaged or diseased branches.
The best companion plant of camellia
Anything that likes slightly acidic soil and a little shade can be eaten well with camellia. Try the following:
HOSTAS
Fern
cuckoo
Rhododendron
Hydrangea
Cornus officinalis
Gardenia
Problems and Solutions of Camellia Planting
Yes, camellia is prone to some problems. However, they are much less likely to encounter problems if you adequately water them and water them in the proper soil at the correct pH value. The following are the most common questions:
Camilla petal blight
It looks like a small rust spot on the petals. The best way is to remove any infected flowers. Remove all fallen flowers as soon as possible.
If you have camellia petal blight and remove the flowers, make sure you remove the old cover and replace it with a new, fresh one.
Root rot fungus
Avoid any root binding problems of camellia by ensuring that the soil is well drained. The most common symptoms are yellowing of leaves and withering of the whole plant.
Dig some soil. If the root is red, brown rather than white, the root rot may be the problem.
Use universal bactericides to prevent fungi as much as possible. It will take several seasons for the shrubs to fully recover.
mite
Mites like the evergreen leaves of camellia. You will see mites under the leaves, which look like moving dust particles. If the leaves appear dehydrated, although there is enough water, check the underside.
Usually, if you spray the plants with water once a week, this is enough to loosen the pests and send them to a bag. You must do this for at least one month. If this does not work, please spray with a targeted mite killer.
aphid
When there is new growth, aphids will be attracted by camellia flowers, especially buds. See the aphid article here for tips on identification and control.
Leaf gall bladder
Leaf gall sometimes appears in the spring growth tide caused by the ectoderm of the fungus Camellia japonica. The new flowers and leaves become thick and pale, and look like powder.
Remove all infected parts of the plant and spray with fungicide.
Use Camellia
Camellia leaves and petals are edible and used to make tea all over the world. These plants also produce a fruit full of several seeds. These seeds can be used to make edible oil or cosmetic oil.
However, not all camellia can bear fruit. It depends on the type and whether there are enough pollinators in your garden to fertilize the flowers so that they will bear fruit.