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Most floriferous camellia
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Posted by linky z9CA (My Page) on Tue, Feb 15, 05 at 23:26
| Anyone know which varieties of camellias flower most heavily in zone 9? Looking for one I can espalier but it can't be too huge - not taller than about 8-9 feet. Any color but red...
The trellis I want to plant it against is quite shady with just a couple hours of morning sun a day. Will it work?
Thanks.
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Most floriferous camellia
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| The most bang for the buck is a sasanqua, which blooms in late autumn. The sasanqua variety 'Mine-no-yuki' (snow on the mountain) is easy to espalier and can be maintained any size you want. It has dark green leaves, and bright white blooms that shatter to create a snowy blanket around the shrub when in full bloom. Very dramatic, and hard to beat. A couple of hours of sun is plenty. I have some in full shade. It should be fairly easy to find. |
RE: Most floriferous camellia
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Thanks, ForrestAl.
Not to be greedy but... is snow on the mountain long blooming as well as being floriferous? |
RE: Most floriferous camellia
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| Yes we want it all, don't we?!! This sasanqua blooms about as long as any other. I think mine blooms for about 6 weeks, with about 2 weeks of peak blooms, usually in late November. The blooms are not large like Japonica, but you will get a more showy display. It just depends on what you want. There are so many options, its like a kid in a candy store. I will say this, of the espaliers I have seen, this is always my favorite. As it grows large and hits full bloom, with those white blooms against the deep green background, and snow all around, trained against a nice wall, it will take your breath away. I saw one this winter that I still can't get out of my mind. |
RE: Most floriferous camellia
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| I agree with ForestAl's opinion of sasanqua camellias. They are great bloomers. I have a spring blooming camellia that seems to be as good. It is 'Crimson Candles.' My little plant is just a year old and only about twelve inches tall but it is covered by 2 to 2 1/2", bright rose-pink flowers. As a bonus, the buds showed reddish sepals for about a month and a half before the flowers opened. I am a little uncertain about its parentage. It was listed among C. japonica varieties as an F2 generation of C. reticulata and C. fraternal. I am not sure whether it is a reticulata and fraternal cross or a three way cross that includes C. japonica. Regardless, it shows a lot of promise. |
RE: Most floriferous camellia
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| Thank you both. I was headed out to my favorite nursery to see if I could find these in bloom, when it started raining. Someone at the nursery told me her favorite espaliered are Mary Phoebe Taylor and Shiro Chan. ForrestAl, your description of Snow on the Mountain is very tempting. I hope I can find her in Sacramento. Serenoa- I checked a camellia book out of the library a while back and some of the varieties had that characteristic you speak of- buds showing reddish sepals. They were beautiful. |
RE: Most floriferous camellia
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ForrestAl,
If you are still out there- I have called most of the nurseries in our area and no one carries Snow on the Mountain.
However, one has 'White Doves" which also goes by the name of Mine no Yuki. Would you know if this is the same variety you recommended?
Thank you again... |
RE: Most floriferous camellia
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| Yes, its the same. Confusing I know. The official name is the japanese 'Mine-No-Yuki' pronounced min'-nay no yoo'ki. They like to be planted high. Good luck, I think you will be happy with it. |
RE: Most floriferous camellia
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| Camellia x williamsii 'Donation' would be the obvious choice to me. Dark green foliage and a loooooong, wonderful flowering season in countless semidouble pink blossoms. No doubts is the longest flowering camellia here... |
RE: Most floriferous camellia
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I just looked up Donation and discovered something interesting. One site said it flowers much more heavily than do sasanquas in shady situations. The place I will be planting this camellia is in virtual shade. It gets maybe 1-2 hours of very early morning sun. The camellia I currently have planted there is not thriving which is one reason I was seeking an especially profuse variety. - I was hoping this quality would cancel out the shade factor. I guess I should have titled my posting "Most profuse camellias for extremely shady locations"...
Thank you, Inverewe. We live in the same 'zone' but I'm not sure this variety is available in Sacramento where I live. Does Donation lend itself to espalier? |
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