The Camellia (the camellias) is one of the most popular plants for adding colour to an otherwise dull garden at this time of the year. There is a stunning range of colours from pure whites to dark reds and with its glossy green leaves the camellia is a welcome addition to the garden in February.
Originally cultivated in the gardens of China and Japan, it was many hundreds of years before they were seen in Europe. Our earliest impression of camellias was in Chinese painted wallpapers where they were seen growing in porcelain pots. The first camellias were grown in England in the 18th century and with the expansion of the tea trade towards the end of this period camellias became common and new varieties bloomed. Today the Japanese Camellia – often simply called ‘the camellia’ is the most prominent species with over 2,000 named cultivars.
Camellias are woodland natives and prefer a sheltered, shady position ideally in an area that avoids direct morning sun however, they also grow really well in a container provided that care is taken to place it out of the early morning sun in cold, frosty weather. Most camellia plants have a rapid growth rate; they will typically grow about 30cm per year until mature and nearly all species require a large amount of water and do not like droughts.
Andrew our Plant Manager and his team are on hand to assist you with any queries you may have and will be happy to discuss the varieties we have on sale. Andrews favourites are ‘Silver Anniversary’ and ‘Donation’ and our whole range starts from £15.99.
