Camellias are wonderful flowering garden plants for all but the hot and tropical parts of Australia (see climate map). ‘Burke’s Backyard’ visited Camellia Lodge Nursery at Dandenong North in Victoria to look at camellias flowering towards the end of the camellia season (late winter, early spring). The camellia season begins in late summer or early autumn with early flowering sasanqua varieties. Camellias continue to flower into September.
Camellia care
Camellias are mostly grown in a semi-shaded position. Shade is particularly important in hot climates through summer. The ideal situation is one where light is filtered perhaps through the leaves of an overhanging tree. Some camellias can be grown in more sunny positions to full sun and some of these sun tolerant varieties are listed below. As a rule of thumb, the more colour in a flower (that is the darker the flower colour) the more tolerant it will be of sun. In sunny positions camellias need to be mulched and well watered. White flowered camellias generally need good protection from sun, including the early morning sun in winter.
Late flowering varieties
- C. ‘Cinnamon Cindy’ – A soft pink fading to almost white perfumed flowers. Tolerates sun and grows to 3m (10′). Can be pruned as a hedge or screening plant.
- C. japonica ‘Nuccio’s Gem’ – A white camellia best in a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade.
- C. japonica ‘Pope John XXIII’ – Another good white camellia which has formal double flower. Protect from full afternoon sun.
- C. japonica ‘Nuccio’s Cameo’ – This variety has a pink flower and grows to 2m (6′). It likes morning sun and afternoon shade.
- C. ‘Sweet Emily Kate’ – A sprawling, low growing shrub to 1m to 1.5m (3′-5′) with perfumed, soft to mid-pink flowers. Slow growing. Will tolerate some sun.
- C. japonica ‘Grand Marshall’ – A dark red flower with soft ruffled petals. Grows to 3m (10′) and is sun tolerant.
- C. japonica ‘Spring Formal’ – A beautiful pink formal camellia flower which means that the petals are lined up in rows and patterns. It likes morning sun and afternoon shade and grows to 2m (6′).
- C. ‘Sweet Jane’ – A variety which could be a good alternative to some C. sasanqua varieties. Delicate soft pink to white flowers occur over a long period. Sun tolerant, reaches 3m (10′) and is suitable as a hedge or screen plant.
- C. lutchuensis – A species camellia used to breed many of the more recent perfumed varieties. Tiny white perfumed flowers (not much bigger than 2cm (1″) wide) for many months. The plant has a weeping habit, grows to around 4m (12′). Pale green leaves. Some sun tolerance.
- C. lutchuensis Taiwanese form – This is a dwarf form of C. lutchuensis from Taiwan. It grows to about 50cm (20″) but will spread. It has dainty white flowers with a dense growth habit, needing morning shade and protection from hot afternoon sun.
- C. reticulata ‘Curtain Call’ – Large flowers almost the size of dinner plates, mid-pink with a hint of apricot. Dense growth habit in the sun and needs room in the garden, growing up to 4m (13′) and is wind intolerant.
Suppliers
Specialist camellia nurseries and other large nurseries have displays of camellia blossoms from autumn until early spring. Our segment was filmed at Camellia Lodge Nursery, 1-15 Bakers Road, Dandenong North, Vic, 3175. Phone: (03) 9795 8188.
To find camellias visit your local nursery or one of the following specialist nurseries during autumn, winter or early spring:
NSW: Camellia Grove Nursery,
8 Cattai Ridge Road,
Glenorie 2157
Ph: 9652 1200 Phone: (02) 9144 3402. Cowells Camellia Nursery, Terry Road, Theresa Park via Camden, 2570. Phone: (02) 4651 2228. Paradise Plants, Cherry Lane, RMB 2117 Greta Road, Kulnura, 2250. Phone: (02) 4376 1330. (Open to bus and special interest groups by appointment. Please phone to make a booking). Parkers of Turramurra, Tennyson Road, Turramurra, 2074. Phone: (02) 9487 3888. Swanes at Dural, 490 Galston Road, Dural, 2158. Phone: (02) 9651 1322.
QLD: Birkdale Nursery, 438 Old Cleveland Road, Birkdale, 4159. Phone (07) 3286 0333.
SA: Newmans Nursery & Topiary Tea House, North East Road, Tea Tree Gully, 5097. Phone: (08) 8264 2661. (Extensive camellia garden and cut flowers, peak viewing August to early September.)
WA: John Cole’s Nursery, Lot 5, Beenyup Road, Jandakot, 6164. Phone: (08) 9417 9834.
Further reading
Gardening with Camellias by Jim Rolfe (Kangaroo Press, 1992) Growing Camellias by Margaret Tapley (Simon & Schuster, 1996). Growing Camellias in Australia and New Zealand by B Savell and S Andrews (Kangaroo Press, 1982). The Camellia by P. Longhurst and T. J. Savige (Bay Books, 1982). The Colour Dictionary of Camellias by Stirling Macoboy (Landsdowne Press, 1981). The International Camellia Register, rrp $100 (includes postage). Phone (02) 9449 8906.
