I live in Philadelphia and have a Blood of China in peak bloom on Mother's Day, with the Kurume azaleas. Every year it blooms same time, always a great show on Mother's Day, making
this, in my opinion, a very desirable variety (and a good selling point for nurseries that carry this plant! ).

This past winter Blood of China neither lost a flower bud, nor browned a leaf, and after five years in my garden has grown from a small shrub
to approximately six feet tall, four feet wide.

Don't know when it would bloom for your area.

Thank you, ezlivin. The late cold snap got my Bob Hope and it was FULL of buds! What does Blood of China look like? I'm partial to red and one of mine is white w/ red stripes. Thanks, Brandy

Click here or here to view some pictures.

Luis

Thanks, Luis. That's a gorgeous camellia! I'll have to see if I can find it in my area. Brandy

I like a new camellia sport cultivar called 'Jinhua's Beauty'. It has unique coloration. The new leaves are very dark in purple. The mature leaves will turn to green, still with purple tone. The new camellia plant was discovered in China. No one yet has this camellia in the U S. Please see the picture.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:508129}}

What a fascinating color, longriver. I like that one too. I got my most recent 3 from Camforest.com and since it is not too far away, I was able to go to their open house and look at the plants and make my selections. I wanted another scented one but they only had it in the larger size. I did get a baby magnolia tree (all the woods around here and not a single magnolia!). Maybe I will find another gardener to go with by the fall and go back again. Thanks for the suggestion. Brandy

MY FAVORITE CAMELLIA IS ANY THAT'S BLOOMING, I LOVE THEM ALL, BUT LONGRIVER IS REALLY MAKING US DROOL WITH JINHUA'S BEAUTY, ISN'T HE. WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO HAVE THAT ONE.

florence-2007, Likewise all camellias have their unique beauty. I do appreciate them all. For example, I have a small, very ordinary anemone camellia seedling. It also has a touch of mild fragrance. It is not good enough for registration, but I like it in my yard profoundly. See the flower, sorry no fragrance attached.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:510087}}

That bloom has a gorgeous shape and tint. Thanks for sharing it w/ us.
I am surprised there has not been more response to this thread! Brandy

Hello Brandyray:
Camellias are like Lay's potato chips...you can't eat just one. I think that the reason I didn't pop in at first was because, though I ), my favorite is always the one that is in bloom at the time! I wonder if that is the reason for the lack of response from others as well?

Maybe everyone is just too busy planting new plants and watering. It's been awful dry here. I'm really partial to evergreens- especially glossy ones- camellias and magnolias and hollies. We couldn't grow those (the first 2) where I grew up, just a bit too cold, so they are exotic plants to me. It was an eye-opener to go to the camellia nursery and see striped camellias and discover some camellias were fragrant! Of course, I picked one of each... Brandy

hello, longriver, i really enjoyed the pictures. the seedling that you mentionned+ how old is it? I want to start some from seed and I am wondering how long it would take to flower. thanks.

sue

Littlem: Breeding new camellia is a fun hobby. It takes 5 years to see the first flower. Then it takes additional 3 years to evaluate the flower. The fragrant seedling plant of mine ia about 9 years old. If you just want to try to grow a few camellia seeds to see the possibility to have a nice new camellia. My advice is 'Do not do it'. Because the odds to produce a very nice camellia is very low, much less than 1/100.
I would like to see you to learn an efficient way of camellia breeding first. Otherwise you will be occupied yourself with many ' dogs' of flower for many years.
If you can develop an very special camellia for naming eventually, the sentimental value is priceless, more than your life time.

hello, longriver, thanks for the response. I know I don't have that kind of patience.

sue