Camellias: Organic Garden Workhorses
The first time I saw a Camellia, I had no idea what it was. In the beginning of February, with a light dusting of snow on the ground, I strolled through the conservatories of Longwood Gardens, in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. The Camellias were blooming in the as-yet-unrenovated East Convervatory. To me, they were a miracle. A rose blossom on a tree without thorns. A magnolia in bloom in February. They defied description. I sound like a person possessed. At that moment, I did become, just a little bit, possessed. It would be five more years before I got up close and personal with camellias in any meaningful way.
What are Camellias?
Simply put, camellias are small, flowering trees with evergreen leaves, and large, showy pink, red or white flowers. They are native to eastern and southeastern Asia. The two most prevalently cultivated species of Camellias are C. japonica and C. sasanqua. Japonicas bloom in January-February, and Sasanquas bloom October-December in most areas. Tea plants are camellias–Camellia sinensis. A beautiful Camellia with showy flowers is C. reticulata. The Camellia has many devoted fans. The American Camellia Society is a huge organization with regional chapters, camellia shows and other activities. I can attest, first-hand, that people that love Camellias, LOVE Camellias. During my time at Airlie Gardens, I served as the liason to the Tidewater Camellia Club. In addition to being fanatically interested in Camellias, they were some of the nicest people I have met in Wilmington.
Why are Camellias great for Organic Gardens?
Camellias are great for organic gardeners, because they can survive and thrive with minimal care. You might not get that picture from reading the ACS homepage, because folks that grow camellias for show go to extreme lengths to produce beautiful, huge and blemish-free blooms. If you aren’t concerned if your camellias have a spot or two on them, you can grow them with minimal chemical input. Much of camellia care is culturally related. Pruning the shrubs correctly, and removing old leaves and flowers from beneath the plant go a long way toward growing prolifically blooming plants and preventing spread of disease.
Camellia Care Basics
- Camellias need to be planted high, and do not like sitting in water. They need evenly moist soil, but do not need much artificial irrigation once established.
- Camellias bloom in the fall and winter. Once blooming is finished, gardeners need to rake up extra leaves and fallen blossoms from below the tree. Gardeners must be vigilant about this cultural step, as failure to do so will result in the spread of fungal diseases, the one major problem Camellias susceptible to.
- Pruning must happen immediately after blooming has finished. Camellias immediately begin pushing new growth and setting flower buds. You can tell if it is too late to prune your camellias if the buds on the shrub have already completely grown out.
If well cared-for, camellias can live over 100 years, and become small trees. I have camellias in my yard now. I have no idea what color they are because I planted them in May, and acquired them from my landscaper, who happened to have them in his driveway waiting to go to another job. (He lives down the street from me. My project expanded significantly throughout the day of installation because of this.) I can’t wait to see what the flowers look like. Camellias are such a treat–with the most beautiful and showy flowers there are, and they bloom during December!
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