Feature Article Cold-Hardy — Gardening on the Esoteric E by Harriet Monshaw d t a recent lecture, Allen were seriously bred. The two most Characteristics ALacey, plantsman, author, and the well known American hybridizers are Most hybrids are upright, g guiding light of Linwood, NJ’s new Dr. William Ackerman of Ashton, MD, reaching 6'+. I’ve read there is vest-pocket arboretum, mentioned at the U.S. National Arboretum, and a globose shape, but I haven’t e having planted oleifera ‘Lu Dr. Clifford Parks of Chapel Hill, NC, met any roly-poly ones yet. Shan Snow’. I wish he had consulted at the University of NC. The resembles a large- me first, even though my knowledge of There are fewer than 100 cold- evergreen but with camellias is limited. I would have said, hardy currently in the trade narrower and single . “Forget Lu Shan, try another white reliable in zone 6b (0° F). Most are The leaf is evergreen, leathery, and camellia”—more about Lu Shan later. A hybridized using the following : lustrous, ilex-like with partially buzz sounded in my brain—time for an C. japonica, C. oleifera, C. saluenensis, serrulate margins, 2–3" long by 1–2" article on camellias so that others don’t and C. sasanqua. The cultivars wide. The flowers are2–4 ", fragile, go astray. C. oleifera ‘Plain Jane’ and C. oleifera shattering easily. forms can be ‘Lu Shan Snow’ are often one of a single, double, anemone, peony, rose Background ’s parents. The former is the form double, and formal double; it’s The was named by Linnaeus in hardier of the two. a progression of converting stamens honor of George Kamel (1661–1706), and/or the pistil into petaloids. I prefer an Austrian Jesuit missionary to the the flower forms that have “effective” Philippines and botanist. However, stamens—let the boys have their day. two German physicians working in Flower colors are white, pink, and red. Japan, Andreas Cleyer in the s and 1680 (Camille’s preferred color was white Engelbert Kaempfer in the s, were 1690 except for five days of the month when the first to describe the plant in their they were red—nothing like alerting writings. The genus Camellia is in the the customers to when the shop was (C. sinensis) family and closed.) The flowering is often so is native to southeastern Asia. North profuse that the appears almost American genera in that family are photo © Harriet Monshaw out of place in the early winter/early , , and . ‘Lu Shan Snow’ spring landscape. Ornamental camellias have been Cold-hardy camellia cultivars are Which brings me to the plant’s cultivated for centuries in China and usually grouped into blooming periods: roots. While the plant may resemble Japan. They were imported to England fall-bloomers, October-January; and the rhododendron genus in culture, about , 1740; 1780; spring-bloomers, March-May. (In habit, and relative intolerance to dense and France, (Camille…“she 1820 February, and people wisely go root competition, it differs in that it was never seen with any flowers on vacation.) I prefer the fall/winter develops a taproot. This might explain but camellias,” Dumas These 1848). blooming camellias. They bloom when its ability to withstand some drought countries began hybridizing—primarily most other are snoozing— and heat better than . using C. japonica. But, it was not until besides I have enough going on in Moreover, camellias, thankfully, do not the s that cold-hardy camellias 1960 spring. succumb as easily to the wilt/root rot

Vol. 25, No. 1 Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group 3 as the rhododendrons do in my present camellia aficionado and hybridizer, is orangey and gold. Talk about tender garden—nothing more unsettling than plants in late April but transplants sensibilities. I banished her to the rear watching a slow death. Thus, camellias before April 1. Randy Kobetich of of my garden, east facing about 8' from fit nicely into a suburban landscape Chester and Rehoboth Beach, American the house. Despite my lack of attention, that might not tolerate rhododendrons. Camellia Society speaker and show she continues to grow and flower To paraphrase Marie Antoinette, if judge, favors the day he plants his profusely—she certainly has “spirit.” you can’t grow rhododendrons, grow tomatoes. Both agree growth may be What to do? I wanted a white camellias. stunted if planted in the fall. Martine camellia near my variegated holly, That’s the good news. The bad Cusden of Camellia Forest Nursery says white fruiting callicarpas, and white news is—most blooms freeze, brown, mid-spring planting is preferred anemones. I planted C. oleifera ‘Lu and turn to mush at about 32° F. because most camellias are shipped Shan Snow’, white, single (11/1–1/15) Some hybrids have immature buds from the South and have already broken and C. ‘Ashton’s Snow’ (C. japonica that will remain closed at subfreezing dormancy. If a ‘Billie McCaskill’ temperatures, then open when the frost occurs, the x C. oleifera temperature moderates. new growth might ‘Plain Jane’), an be destroyed. Ackerman hybrid, Culture She continues, white, double Camellias, though not related to if planted in the (11/1-1/30). The rhododendrons, have a similar culture: fall, when many single blooms of moist, well-drained, acidic (pH northern garden ‘Lu Shan Snow’ 5.5–6.5), part sun (4 hours/understory), centers stock are a disappoint- and well mulched. camellias, the ment. The flowers Siting is important—nothing broad-leaved photo ©Harriet Monshaw viewed close-up Camellia ‘Ashton’s Snow’ is easy. Before my first foray into evergreen hasn’t look like silky camellias, I read the literature: N or enough time to establish itself to endure fluttering butterflies. From my front NW preferred but shelter from drying the rigors of our winter. All agreed to door, they look like wet tissues—worse, cold winds; not S or W due to sun not making a purchase until spring. If they turn brown at 32°. The flower buds issues; not E if exposed to morning that’s not possible, the new plant can appear incapable of blooming when sun during a freeze—the sun on glossy be kept in a lighted, cool garage (45° F the weather warms. Cresson however leaves might produce a rapid change maximum) until ready to plant. sees other things in his 35-year-old of temperature which could cause Lu Shan—an impressive, handsome, tissue damage. Perplexed, I followed Practical experience showy bark. Unfortunately, I don’t the path of least resistance by placing When I moved to a new home and have 35 years to wait and see what my my two new camellias in an available garden five years ago, my two camellias plant will look like when she grows up. space—a NE nook about 4' from the moved, too. I placed them NE about Sorry, Charlie. In contrast to Lu Shan’s house’s brick wall. This site protected 6' from a solid fence protecting them performance, the double flowers of them from the S and W. They were from the northwest wind next to an ‘Ashton’s Snow’ look respectable even protected from the north wind by a Ilex aquifolium ‘Argenteomarginata’ at 30° degrees; moreover, the flower huge Rhododendron ‘English Roseum’. (Varigated Holly) in my white garden. buds bloom after ameliorating weather. I had to prune the rhododendron to C. ‘Winter’s Interlude’ (C. oleifera Despite Lu Shan’s shortcomings, I may squeeze them in. ‘Plain Jane’ x C. sinensis rosea keep her for historical reasons. When to plant is also critical. ‘Pink Tea’), an Ackerman hybrid, Charles Cresson of Swarthmore, pinky lavender, anemone (bloom Spring bloomers time 11/15-12/31+) didn’t survive the A few words about spring bloomers— transplant—I moved and transplanted basically C. japonica. In my area, in December. C. ‘Autumn Spirit’ Camden County, NJ, one sees lanky, (C. oleifera x C. sasanqua), a Parks 8'+, floriferous plants that are about hybrid, bright deep pink, peony 20–25 years old. I can only assume (10/15-12/15+), however didn’t drop that these old cultivars are truly hardy a leaf. Siting correct; landscaping as they have survived years of neglect incorrect. Every time I went out my and the vagaries of our weather. front door in the fall, there was this Most are sited N or E, sheltered near bright magenta flowering shrub staring walls and among other shrubbery. photo ©Harriet Monshaw Camellia ‘Autumn Spirit’ me in the face when the entire world None are exposed specimen plants. 4 Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group January 2011 Flurry’, white, peony (10/15–11/30+). NJ—the plants can be visited when Cusden raves about semidwarf in bloom; or Fairweather Gardens, ‘Winter’s Rose’, pale pink, formal Greenwich, NJ—but you know how double (11/1–12/15). For dependability, they are—no exceptions to their she likes ‘Survivor’, white, single (late mail-order-only rule except for a few fall/early winter), and ‘Autumn Spirit’. visiting days in spring. Further afield, For spring bloom, Cresson try Camellia Forest Nursery, Chapel rhapsodizes over ‘April Remembered’, pearly pink, large semidouble (3/1-4/30), and respects ‘Spring’s Promise’ for its long blooming period, rosy pink, single (2/15-5/15). Kobetich prefers the more exuberant blooms of Parks’ April series—in particular, ‘April Dawn’, pink/white variegation with a variety of color sports, formal double; ‘April Kiss’, rosy pink, formal double; photo ©Harriet Monshaw photo ©Harriet Monshaw and ‘April Tryst’, red, anemone. Flower for Rose Form, Double Flower Habit for Rose Form, Double Flower Just the names leave me breathless. Unfortunately, none of the people who Cresson and Kobetich both suggested Hill, NC—very knowledgeable. This presently own these shrubs know the ultra hardy (zone 5b? with protection) nursery was established by Dr. Parks cultivars’ names. (Time for cuttings?) ‘Korean Fire’, red, single (3/15-5/15), a and his wife Kai Mei; it is now owned A little judicious pruning and a mild PHS Gold Medal plant. and operated by their son David Parks balanced fertilizer might go a long way With all this new-found knowledge, and Kai Mei Parks. I bought my first to fattening them up. I accidentally made my latest two camellias at this nursery on a trip to To experiment with spring acquisition. While I was perusing North Carolina with HPS/MAG in May bloomers, I planted C. x williamsii pumpkins and chrysanthemums in a 2001—a trip that still holds the HPS/ ‘Aida’ (C. japonica ‘Ville de Nantes’ local garden center, I stumbled over MAG buying binge record to this day. x C. saluenensis ‘Dogrose’), pink, rose compact ‘Yuletide’, red/conspicuous We had to hire a truck to bring back the form, mid-spring, and C. japonica stamens, single, (11/1-1/30), and it fell goodies. ‘Longwood Centennial’, red, single, into my shopping cart...now I need Wherever, whatever, try a camellia mid-spring. Both were recommended a “cool” garage. With this zone 7b or three. You know…that Marie by Matt Taylor, research horticulturist , I might be over the edge. Antoinette had a good head on her at Longwood Gardens’ camellia Other selection tips: shoulders. breeding program. Note: The name UUflowering in mid-spring or early Aida means “returning” in Arabic; not fall is less susceptible to danger the doomed opera heroine. from frost damage UUdarker blooms show less frost So what and where to buy damage than paler colors Harriet Monshaw writes horticultural and For a camellia genus overview, historical articles for various venues. She credits UUplump is good when it comes to start with Dirr’s Manual of Woody the following organizations: Barnes Arboretum, camellia plant form Landscape Plants; move on to Rutgers Coop Extension of Camden Co. (Master UUif landscaping, pay attention to Gardener), Longwood Gardens (Certificate Ackerman’s article “Camellias for Cold blossom color and plant shape Program), State of NJ Internal and External Climates”; and finish with Ackerman’s UUdo your homework (Ah, gee.) Audit (Yikes!—where she learned the fine art of illuminating book, Beyond the Camellia investigation). Her interest in camellias, she A big box store’s garden center had Belt: Breeding, Propagating and says, came just when she thought she was healthy, good-sized camellias for ready for the coniferization/ossification of her Growing Cold-Hardy Camellias. sale at a reasonable price. When garden—to paraphrase Gershwin, camellias For fall/winter, I suggest ‘Ashton’s I researched these cultivars, I found “walked right in and drove the [conifers] away.” Snow’ and ‘Autumn Spirit’—even that they were not cold hardy in though she’s a screamer, she has Ed Note: For a full-color version of this article, go to zone 6b. survived transplanting three times. the HPS/MAG website, www.hardyplant.org. View the Ackerman articles online at the American Camellia Both Cresson and Kobetich recommend Where to buy is a little easier Society, Cold Hardy Camellias, www.camellias-acs. ‘Winter’s Star’, pink, single Try Waterloo Gardens, Devon or com/display.aspx?catid=3,9,23&pageid=713, and at The International Camellia Society, Camellias for Cold (10/15–11/30), and globose ‘Snow Exton, PA; Rare Find Nursery, Jackson, Climates, camellia-ics.org/_ics/ackerm1.htm.

Vol. 25, No. 1 Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group 5