Best Camellias

Japonica camellias are the best known and most popular camellias grown in gardens today. Not only do they produce beautiful flowers in the depths of winter when everything else is bare, but they also have glossy evergreen foliage. With few pests or diseases to bother them, they are hardy, no-fuss shrubs, well suited to a slightly shaded spot in the garden. Suitable areas to grow Camellia japonica include Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Hobart, Sydney, Brisbane and the Mountains.

The only problem is that there are literally thousands of named varieties, and it's hard to choose between them. So to help you get started, Burke's Backyard has consulted with camellia growers and experts, and put together a list of the best ten japonica camellias.

1. Lovelight
   Hardiest and best performing pure white camellia. Large white informal flower. Vigorous upright growth. Flowers mid April to early September.
2. Desire
   Large formal flower, white with pink edge. Needs to be grown in partial shade. Vigorous bushy growth, but compact. Suitable for many situations. Blooms mid April to mid September.
3. Brushfield's Yellow
   Informal double flower. Creamy yellow or antique white anemone form camellia. Compact, upright growth. Popular for tub culture and topiary.
4. Scentuous
   Perfumed informal double. Pink tipped buds open to ivory white with delicate flushes of pink on the outside petals. Flowers late May to September.
5. Betty Ridley
   Large formal double pink blooms. Medium, upright growth. Flowers early April to mid September.
6. Buttons n Bows
   Formal double flowers, two toned pink with wavy petals. Medium bushy growth. Flowers mid April to mid September.
7. Great Eastern
   Deep rose red flowers with rings of lighter petals towards the centre. Hardy, tolerant to heat and cold, and copes with a range of soil types. Needs early disbudding to produce large flowers.
8. Emperor of Russia
   Medium to large informal double flowers, red in colour. Flowers from late May to mid September.
9. Bob Hope
   The nearest to a deep black red. A large semi-double with bright yellow stamens. Blooms mid season. Compact bushy growth
10. Grand Marshall
    Big informal double flower, deep red in colour. Blooms from June to September. Vigorous and fast growing.

Others mentioned

Coral Delight Coral to salmon pink, semi double flower. Compact upright habit.

Royal Velvet Red velvet semi-double flowers from mid June to mid September.

Lutchuensis Small white perfumed flowers from May to September. Ideal for a tub. Star Above Star Excellent hedging sasanqua camellia. White semi-double flowers shading to pink at the edges.

Star Above StarExcellent hedging sasanqua camellia. White semi-double flowers shading to pink at the edges.

High Fragrance Fast growing hybrid with an open habit. Fragrant flowers, pale pink with darker petal edges.

Availability and cost

Camellias are available at nurseries and specialist camellia nurseries Australia wide, including:

NSW
Camellia Grove,
8 Cattai Ridge Road,
Glenorie 2157
Ph: 9652 1200

QLD
Birkdale Nursery, Birkdale. Phone: (07) 3207 2533

SA
Newmans Nursery & Topiary Tea House, Tea Tree Gully. Phone: (08) 8264 2661

VIC
Camellia Lodge Nursery, Dandenong North. Phone: (03) 9795 8188

WA
John Cole's Nursery, Banjup. Phone: (08) 9417 9834

Prices start at $15 for a 200mm (8") plant. More mature specimens in 300mm (12") pots sell for around $45.

Further information

Our segment was filmed at Camellia Grove Nursery, 240 Mona Vale Road, St Ives, 2075. Phone (02) 9144 3402. Camellia Grove is celebrating its 60th Birthday on August 7 and 8, with a free sausage sizzle and entertainment.

Copyright CTC Productions 1999