Garden News Magazine 19th January 2019 Back Issue

CAMELLIAS TO GIVE AN EARLY SHOT OF COLOUR
Camellias are the doyen of early-flowering shrubs, producing a succession of fabulous waxy-textured flowers nestled among glossy, evergreen leaves, that can, in turn, be demure and understated to bordering on the outrageous. Some are even sweetly scented. While the main flowering season spans late winter into spring, a number of varieties welcome in the new year with a fanfare of blossom at a time when floral treats are welcome. Forms span those from Camellia japonica, the hybrid C. williamsii and additional hybrids derived from a range of species. This has imbued them with a range of growth habits, from compact to more open, so check habit and growth rate before buying. In general, C. williamsii hybrids are more tolerant and flower more prolifically in lower light levels than C. japonica types, and drop spent flowers, rather than needing deadheading like C. japonica types, especially the older varieties.