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New Here ... New Camellias

14 years ago

I'm usually a fixture over in the Rose Forums, Antiques especially. Since I now have camellias, I decided to come over here and check things out.

I added two camellias to the garden earlier this year ... I don't remember which ones without going out to check the tags. I visited a garden earlier this month that had beautiful camellias, high as the trees in some cases, and now I have to get more. This is a great way to extend the season in the garden, 'cause the roses are finished now. Camellias appear to be perfect for me, and they'll thrive in locations where roses would struggle.

Went to Little Five Azalea Farm in Richmond yesterday, and I have five new ones in the back of the truck. Their prices and selection were very good. The only one I remember off the top of my head is 'Buttons n Bows'. (Got three of these) I was attracted to the straight upright form for this one particular place in the garden. Anyone here grow this one?

Connie

Here is a link that might be useful: garden blog

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Comments (7)

paddlehikeva
14 years ago
Hi Connie,

I am not familiar with Buttons n Bows. A new to me Camellia that I highly recommend to my rose loving friend is Winter's Rose. It is a dwarf camellia with lovely light pink flowers. It has been covered with flowers for the last few weeks. Winter Snowman is one that grows very upright for me. It blooms for about six weeks in November and December. I visited Camellia Forest in NC for their annual open house last year and picked up several that are doing well. They have a large selection of cold hardy plants. One that they highly recommended for cold hardiness is Gov. Mouton.

I will have to check out Little Five Azalea Farm. There is also a couple who sell camellias at the Gordon Road Farmer's Market on Rt 3.

Kathy

Here is a link that might be useful: Winter's rose
spartacuslives
14 years ago
Hi Connie,

'Buttons N Bows' is a gorgeous Camellia hybrid. My plants are very compact and have the most beautiful formal double flowers on them. I live in Southeast Georgia, so cold hardiness is not an issue. I would love to hear back as to how it does in your area. The image below is 'Buttons N Bows'.

{{gwi:515210}}
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I have a collectors flair for color combos and themes, which in my case means, I'm terrible! I have noticed this year, mainly because the cold has held off long enough, that I did pretty well with a row of three particular camellias. It turns out that the three combine well and, to be honest, it was more luck than plan. I have Kanjiro, Apple Blossom and Snow Flurry all in a row. Kanjiro is dark pink, AB is white with pink edges and SF is white. The AB in the center picks up colors from both of the others. Here is a shot of all three from Nov. 24...... Kanjiro is on the end closest to the camera and at the time of the picture had fewer open flowers than the others. I plunge into things without much thought of how well one plant goes with another most of the time, but every now and then I get lucky. My advice is, plant what you like best and enjoy!
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paddlehikeva
14 years ago
Holy smokes that is a pretty camellia!
hartwood
Original Author
14 years ago
Kathy, is the guy at the Chancellor Farmer's Market the guy from Warrenton? Monty ... something.

I second Kathy's "Holy Smokes!" It's cool when an impulse purchase like this turns out to be such a winner ... I bought Buttons n Bows because the habit of the bush itself is perfect, with no idea what the flowers look like. Got lots of buds, tho.

When you say 'compact', what does that mean in camellia language? I have a feeling I'm going to have to put them somewhere other than I have planned ... I need about 6 to 8 feet for this spot.

Connie
spartacuslives
14 years ago
Connie, when I say compact, I mean that the plant is fairly dense and slow growing. It may one day reach the 6-8 feet height that you need, but it will take a good many years to do so. 'Buttons N Bows' would work great in an area where you need a plant that can easily be maintained at 3-4 feet.

For the location where you would need a 6-7 foot plant, consider a plant of 'Egao' if it is available in your area. It is 1/2 C. sasanqua & 1/2 C. japonica. It make a lovely large plant. The image below is of 'Egao'.

{{gwi:515211}}
tamararly
14 years ago
I am seeing the 'Buttons N Bows' for the first time, and even that I am not so much in love for formal flowers, here you convinced me! What a wonderful picture!! And this camellia is cold hardy?? I am dreaming ....

tamararly
paddlehikeva
14 years ago
Monty, yeah that is his name. I could not think of it. I saw him in early spring at the Gordon Road Market and he said that they were trying that market because the dogs at the Warrenton Market were urinating on his shrubs and killing them. I stuck with the Culpeper market for most of the season so I do not know if he went back to Warrenton or not.

If you want, I will share cuttings of my camellias with you. I have not had much luck rooting them, but with your green thumb you could make a stone take root!

Kathy

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