Title: Growing Camellias
Episode: 7
TX: 13/4/14
Presenter: Kim

One plant that would be familiar to us all is the camellia. Their blooms are often seen floating serenely in display bowls and you probably have memories of gran’s magnificent old camellia bush that seemed be a big as a mountain. There’s no better place to go and really appreciate the beauty and diversity of the camellia than by visiting a specialist grower, and that’s why Kim is spending time in Perth’s Pioneers Gardens.

• Camellia’s will enchant with 7 months of colour and an eternity of attractive glossy green foliage and the flower hues and styles so varied.
• While there are many species, the 2 main types of camellias you are likely to come across are Sasanqua and Japonica.
• Sasanquas flower earlier, from March through to June and are more sun tolerant. They generally have smaller leaves and leggier growth, with blooms that tend to have fewer petals but a higher volume of flowers. They do exceptionally well as hedges.
• The Japonicas are what most people associate as a classic camellia. Large, mainly full petalled blooms. They as less sun tolerant than the Sasanquas, most enjoy morning sun and also do well in shade.
• Camellia’s love acidic soil, if your lucky enough to have that naturally great, however if your soil is a little on the alkaline side then add plenty of well aged organic matter into the planting hole to drop the pH.
• If you want the very best from your camellias, feed them. Slow releases work well, as do organic based fertilizers. The best time to fertilize is spring and early autumn.