Have huge, old variety azalea, deep pink. I have some small rooted plants and can take cuttings as well. Would LOVE camellias, rooted, in exchange. Pls email. Thanks! rosebush

Dear luis_pr, It sounds as if your 'Eleanor McCown' is sporting to 'Kathryn McCown,' its common pink mutation. We have an 'Eleanor McCown' that has been producing that pink mutation for years. 'Kathryn McCown' is listed in _Camellia Nomenclature_. As far as 'Mine-no-Yuki' is concerned, we've grown that sasanqua for years; and it always blooms as white as the purest wind-driven snow. Maybe it's sporting? Could it be grafted onto some other sasanqua root stock and reverting to the graft?

The first one is rather big as a sasanqua, perhaps 8-9 cm. The second one is smaller, medium sized for a sasanqua, about 7-8cm. Both are flowering from october to december (in fall). I have not found identical varieties on camellia forest website, but our climate is not the same, then it might explain the differences. In this case perhaps I may have Pink Serenade and Winter's Joy (similar leaves). But how different the flowers look !

I have a young C. sasanqua 'Cleopatra' start (got it last fall from the PHS plant divide here in Philly) in a small container (8" for now). Camellias in general are slow growing and upright, but I believe the sasanquas are a bit more open habit than japonicas. Does yours have a single main step with branches or multiple branches? I can see a multibranch form perhaps splaying open if there are young branches in heavy bloom but the branches should toughen over time and I expect they can be tied at the base to encourage an upright form. Also, I would recommend not potting it up too much. One to two sizes above whatever it is in right now should be sufficient as these shrubs/trees can get root rot with too much container volume, since they tend to have mostly surface roots..