To research the truth about where the first camellia was planted outside, You can "Google" "The Magazine of Horticulture, Botany and all Useful Discoveries vol.5. Then Choose the link that carries you to "Find it at Harvard" Click on Vol. 5 and go to page 150. There is an article there from The Charleston Horticulture Society 1839 about Col. Lucas' Camellia. The Last line in the article reads " If the double and fine varieties of the camellia should prove as hardy as the single, and can be successfully cultivated, they must add greatly to the splendor of the flower garden". This statement reveals that the editor of the journal, C.M. Hovey, and The Horticulture Society of Charleston were unaware of any double camellia of age and substance growing outside in Charleston in 1839. It seems odd they would have missed the double camellia "Rein des Flueres" planted at Middleton over 50 years prior. This documents Col. Lucas' single red camellia as the first planted outside, Whether Middleton has another camellia named "Rein des Fluers" or not, it is a double and is not mentioned.

Johnny, those seeds you gave me did great. They are 9"-12" tall now in the seed bed. I will post some pics. Very blue and sharper than razor blades. I dont remember the seed source you collect them from. I also have in my hand Picea torano from the Biltmore Estate. Those are also really sharp as well. How cold hardy are these? Should I protect them from severe temps this winter? We commonly get into the low 20's to upper teens.

Ugh ... now I have to go there! That's a gorgeous camellia, and I'd love to have more of those - so far, only one out of 4 has survived for me. Admittedly, I bought them at deeply discounted prices, after they'd been forced for a flower show. Not a good way to go, and I'm ready to try one (or more) that hasn't already been abused. Turns out, I can provide plenty of abuse right here in my garden. I've tried Aucuba 'Gold Dust' and not had much luck with it - I think mine got some sort of virus, or maybe it just died of neglect, since it was in a back corner under an old maple. Camellias like shade in winter, if I'm not mistaken. The trick is to find a spot where they get shade, but not too much, and where there aren't a lot of roots from more aggressive plants. So far, that spot has eluded me, but I'm ready to try again. They're such lovely plants!

At a previous home in San Diego, I had a 50-year old camellia bush planted up against a concrete block wall and a sidewalk that stopped very near the base. It was on the north side of the wall, with a tall house behind the wall creating deep shade. That thing was huge and dense with leaves and flowers. I trimmed it once to "lace" it -- allow more light into the interior of the plant. It grew doubly fast after that, quickly filling in all the blank spaces. If these were mine, I would bring the height down somewhat and allow them to fill out laterally. They may have been pruned this way because they are in front of windows? A solid shrub is not a good view from indoors. Not the best placement, but that could explain the way they are trimmed.