On the weekend, we had a bunch of people come to the nursery to buy a few plants for their gardens – some wanted sasanquas for hedges or screens, some just wanted a couple for the garden, and some wanted to add to their camellia collection. We enjoy meeting new people and welcoming back returning customers and taking folk about our garden and showing them what you can achieve with a garden of camellias.
One of our customers came with a list and asked for a particular variety. We selected a nice plant – but when we put on the commercial plant label, the customer said that no she wouldn’t have that one because she didn’t like the flower on the label. And that is one on the difficulties selecting plants based on the picture on the label. Whereas label manufacturers use a photo of a sample of that variety, flowers often are variable in form depending on climate, weather and even the time of the season – that is whether it is early in the camellia flowering season, mid or late.
Take these two photos of Camellia Christmas Daffodil. Both these photos
were taken by me, at different times, of flowers on the one plant that we have of this variety.
Christmas Daffodil
Christmas Daffodil - 2
Now, there is no prize for seeing why the first flower is called Christmas Daffodil with the little hose in hose flutes – remembering that this will be flowering in winter in the the USA – Christmas. It is a beautiful flower. But the second photo is also Christmas Daffodil – and it is a simple single flower with no flutes at all – and still beautiful.
The plant decides how it will flower depending on conditions at the time. Both these flowers are Christmas Daffodil but are very different. So when selecting a plant, be conscious of the fact that the plant will flower the way it wants to depending on the conditions – be patient and you will get to enjoy all the flower forms on these special plants.
Have a look at your camellias – particularly the japonicas and hybrids – and see if you have different forms of flower on your plants – the chances are that you have.
Another interesting cultivar is the camellia with the longest name – Dona Herzilia de Freitas Magalhaes – loved for the strong mauve colour that is shown in most camellia publications. This cultivar will flower this magic colour in the right conditions – clay or shale soils and a good amount of cold. In a pot, it will flower a nice pink – deep pink – anemone form flower. But it needs the nutrient from the soil to get that purple colour going. The plant will need time to get its roots into the surrounding soil in order for it to start sucking up the appropriate nutrients, so again, be patient – it might take a couple of seasons. Our plant this year is starting to purple up – after about 5 years. See the different flowers.
Dona Herzilia de Freitas Magalhaes
Dona Herzilia de Freitas Magalhaes
And this one shows some of the blooms on the competition bench at the Illawarra Camellia Society Show last July – it shows a few all purple Donas as well as a number of variegated forms. These are showing a much stronger colour than we have achieved so far – but we are getting there…..
Get out into the garden and enjoy this wonderful weather. Gardening is just so much fun…
Nursery is open again this weekend – 8.00 am to 3.00 pm Saturday and Sunday.
I would like to order 2 Hukuhan- kujaku red weeping camellia plans
Happy to. Please send a private email direct to sales@camelliaglen.com with details including when you plan to collect, or if you want mail order, please supply full name and address for mailing purposes. We can also do payment arrangements..
What are the cost of each below? I prefer the largest blooms available of each. Will each grow into an actual tree or just a bush? Do you ship to Georgia, USA? Thank you!
Dona Herzilia de Freitas Magalhaes – Medium Purple
Dona Herzilia de Freitas Magalhaes – Deep Pink
Dona Herzilia de Freitas Magalhaes – Red
Beni Arajisji – Orange
Lady Loch – Pink
Otome – Pink
Mrs D W Davis Descanso – White
Midnight Magic – Purple
Pearls Pet – Pink
Phillippa Ifould – Pink
We do not ship. You should try to locate these in Georgia. Suggest you read some of the ‘culture notes’ on our website …. or another. These will answer some of your questions.
The flower colour on Dona Hertzillia depends on soil…they are not different varieties.
Flower size is indicated in our website flower descriptions.
Cheers
I live in the cool climate of Montrose, Melb (base of Mt Dandenong) & would love to order 2 Dona Herzilia de Freitas Magalhaes’ – one for a friend. Please advise cost & how to place an order. Regards, Annie
Thanks for the enquiry – we are sold out of Dona for this season – and we don’t ship post or deliver, sorry. It should be one that you can source locally – perhaps ask around your local nurseries.
Cheers