Dan West Garden Center

November 2007 Newsletter©

Camellias

     Few flowers can rival the Camellia's beauty or length of blooming season when multiple varieties are planted.  Fall blooming sasanqua and hiemalis cultivars start as early as September and some japonicas bloom as late as April.  Height varies from 3' to 15' or more, so there is a Camellia for almost every need. 

     Camellias prefer light to moderate shade, but most will tolerate a few hours of sun.  Fall blooming varieties are better for eastern exposures because spring flowering varieties often bloom when we are likely to have frost.  If flowers are beginning to show color, early morning sun on a frost covered flower will destroy the bloom.  So plant the spring bloomers on the north side of the house or in an area protected from the morning sun.

     Camellias, like azaleas, need excellent drainage, so plant them higher than your existing soil line and then improve the surrounding soil with cotton burr compost or finely ground pine bark.  Dig wide, not deep!

     From time to time, Dan West stocks some 85 different varieties of Camellias.  Below are some of our favorites.  Fall blooming varieties tend to be more winter hardy (most are zone 7) than spring blooming varieties (older varieties are zone 8) but the varieties in italics are especially cold hardy.  Most of these are Ackerman hybrids that withstand temperatures to near -20 degrees. These are the ones you should use for open areas.  Other varieties should be planted out of the wind, protected by walls or fences.  To help prevent winter damage on Camellias, it's very important that they are well watered through the fall and spray them with a dormant oil spray or anti-desiccant like Wilt-Pruf or Cloud Cover.

Fall blooming varieties:

Hana Jiman  -  Single white flower, petal tips are pink.  Upright to 10'.

Hiryu  - Deep double red flower,  upright growth to 8' or more.

Kanjiro  - Brilliant rose red, semi double flowers, upright growth to 8'.

Mine no yuki  - Double white, profuse bloomer.  Slight weeping habit to 6' tall and 8' wide.

Setsugekka - White semi double flower, upright growth to 10'.

Shi shi gashira  - My personal favorite.  Reddish pink, semi double, profuse blooms on a dwarf plant. Only grows to 3' tall and 4' wide.

Sparkling burgundy  - Another favorite.  Wide spreading habit to 5' tall and 8' wide.  Spectacular iridescent red double flowers.

Star above star  - White semi double flower with a lavender pink edge. Late fall bloomer to 6'.

Winter's Charm - Double pink, upright, very cold hardy.

Winter's Joy - Bright pink. semi double flower.  Vigorous upright growth, makes an excellent tall narrow hedge.

Winter's Snowman - White anemone form, vigorous columnar growth to 12' and 5' wide.  Very cold hardy.

Winter's Star  - Large, single rose pink, blooms early October - November. Very cold hardy.

Yuletide  - Spectacular deep orange red single flowers around Christmas.  Upright tight growth to 10'.

Spring blooming varieties:

Ack-Scent  - Rose pink, peony form, blossom.  Upright growth to 8', some fragrance.

April Blush  - Shell pink, semi double, slow compact growth.

April Remembered  - Creamy white to pink, large semi double flower.  April bloomer to 6' tall. Very cold hardy.

April Snow - White, rose form double, compact plant to 5'. Very cold hardy.

April Tryst - Red anemone form, to 6' tall. Very cold hardy.

Bob Hope  - Deep red, semi double, March bloomer to 6'.  Very compact, slow growth profuse bloomer.

Carter's Sunburst  - Light pink with abundant red stripes and flecks of variegation, very large semi to full double flower.  Round spreading growth habit to 6' tall.

Debutante  - Rose pink peony flower, upright growth to 8'.  February to early March bloomer.  One of the most popular varieties.

Govenor Mouton - Semi double oriental red flower, vigorous grower, blooms April to 8' or more.

Kramer's Supreme  - Deep red, peony form to 8' tall.  March bloomer, some fragrance.

Kumasaka - Double bright rose pink. Often with white variegation. Upright to 10'.

Mathotiana Supreme - (aka Purple Dawn) Huge purplish red rose form to formal double flower.  Upright growth to 10', April bloomer.

Nuccio's Bella Rossa - Huge formal double, deep red flowers to 8' tall.

Nuccio's Pearl - Nearly white center, outer petals rose pink, full double flower to 8'. January to February flowers. 

Pink Icicle - Large shell pink flower, very cold hardy, compact upright growth.

Pink Perfection - Shell pink, formal double, classic camellia flower. February bloomer to 8' tall.

Professor Sargent  - Dark red, peony form to 10'.  January to February blooms.

Spring's Promise - Vivid, rose red, single midwinter flowers.  To 6' tall and wide, very cold hardy.

Taylor's Perfection  - Huge shell pink flowers.  Spectacular. Upright growth to 8'.

Two Marthas - Bright, rose pink semi double flower. Upright growth to 10'.

White by the Gate - White formal double flower, upright to 8'.

     Camellias "fell from grace" back in the 70's and 80's when several severe winters damaged or killed all but the most protected specimens.  These same winters killed 50 year old crape myrtles.  We immediately started re-planting crape myrtles again, but not camellias.  Some experts felt that if a plant is not absolutely dependable over the long haul, we shouldn't plant it.  I would agree, if a plant is likely to die every year or two, but if it's dependable for 5 or 10 or 20 years, then why not plant it?  We now have the Ackerman hybrids that are very cold hardy, but the fact is, our winters here in the Mid South are milder than in years past. 

     In 2003 the USDA proposed a new zone hardiness map to update the 1990 map but it has not yet been adopted.  It took into consideration heat islands produced by the cities and added another 10 years of average temperatures. On the new map, Shelby County, which was previously split along the Wolf River in zones 7A to the north and 7B to south, is now entirely in zone 8.  That's right...zone 8!

     I have, in my backyard, a fairly tender (and very beautiful) japonica called Sawada's Dream.  It's planted on the north side of a fence and has been through 3 winters with no foliage burn and flowers every year.  I mentioned it to a local gardening expert one time and she said "3 years doesn't make it dependable!"...who cares!  It may not live 50 years but, chances are, neither will I.  Until one of us goes, I'm enjoying the flowers.

Blueberries

     Rabbiteye blueberries should be allowed to ripen on the bush.  Don't pick the berries until they are fully ripe, otherwise the fruit will be bitter. The fruit of most varieties ripens over a 4-6 week period from late May until July.  Once they begin to ripen, they should be picked every 5 to 7 days. A mature bush can produce 15 lbs. of berries.  Plant two varieties for best production. Blueberries are not only good for fruit, they are a beautiful addition to the garden.  Blue green foliage, spectacular red fall color, graceful arching growth...plus fruit.  Cool! 

     Blueberries look best in light shade but produce better in full sun.  Plant and treat them like an azalea.  Plant high for good drainage and fertilize with ferti-lome azalea fertilizer or Holly-tone.  For the first few years, you shouldn't need to prune much.  As the plant matures, you should remove some of the oldest canes during the winter.  Canes that are 4-5 years old don't produce well, so remove them as low as possible.

Austin - Excellent yield, early ripening variety developed at the University of Georgia.

Becki Blue - Good color, size and firmness, used for the commercial fresh market.  Early producer.

Brightwell - Tall, spreading growth. Large, firm fruit, mid-season variety, ripens early to mid June.

Climax - Early ripening variety, upright growth. Medium dark blue fruit.  Good pollinator, ripens late May to early June.

Delite - Very large bush and large pinkish blue fruit.  Flavor resembles Kool-Aid. Heavy producer.

Premier - Vigorous plant, very high yields. Large bright blue fruit of excellent quality. Ripens mid June.

Tifblue - Most productive and widely planted variety.  Upright, vigorous growth with medium light blue berries.  Ripens mid June.

Woodard - Large, light blue, high quality fruit. Vigorous plant, ripens early. 

Got a problem or a question?  You can email us at questions@danwestonline.com.

DAN WEST GARDEN CENTERS

4763 POPLAR            12061 HWY 64

MEMPHIS, TN 38117    EADS, TN 38028

901-767-6743            901-867-2283

KENNETH MABRY - MANAGER          JIM CROWDER - MANAGER