Oh yes! I'd forgotten that I'd seen one a long time ago. The one I saw had tiny leaves but they were shaped exactly the same way and glossy too. I guess this is a lucky volunteer for me.

Your location seems to have a lot of sun right now. In the middle of the hot summer, japonicas will need protection from the hot afternoon sun. Sasanquas can withstand some sun but I would still protect them here in Texas. How long do the fruit trees that you plan on buying last, bobbi_p? If they do not last long, choose something else to provide shade because camellias can easily outlast them if properly cared for. I would be concerned if told that 20 years from now, the fruit trees would start to decline or die thereby exposing the camellia to more sun than it can tolerate. Luckily, some citrus trees can last for a long time but ask when buying just to check. They just cannot live for hundreds of years like a camellia. Investigate carefully your selection/variety. Confirm that the one that you desire has the right color, upright growth and the proper blooming time by going to websites, asking in here, reviewing camellia books or checking the plant label. Careful with color descriptions, especially when talking to someone by phone or email. What is dark to you may not be dark enough to someone else and viceversa. Confirm that you can smell the fragrance too... if you can. Camellias are just starting to have some fragrance but I would never compare their fragrance to that of roses so, for a start, try to smell the scent because some people just cannot detect the light scent of flowers at times. If you need a scent that drifts with the wind, you need a different plant because with camellias, you usually have to either be very nearby or smell close up to detect scent. Choose a cloudy morning to test this, when the fragrance oils are still quite present. If you can afford the cost and sunlight is not going to be an issue, I say go for it. Home Depot used to have a small subsidiary nearby (that has since closed) and which used to carry -I am guessing here- 6-8' camellias. I do not recall the prices but would not be surprised if it was in the vecinity of 200. So be prepared to pay. If possible, I would try to contact a nursery and/or a wholesaler for even taller specimens. I would not try to purchase an already planted camellia from someone who has one for the reasons stated by the camellia society. As far as which variety, your choices sound good but I think you will be limited by the need for an instant tall specimen whose color and blooming time match your specs. It may just be easier to ask what is available commercially out there and choosing from that.... rather than asking all over the world for a precise 10' plant. So keep your options open. Whichever tall ones they have in stock, just make sure it has upright growth habit that blooms during the time frame that you want and color that you like. Inquiring with several landscaping companies may also be a good idea since it may be best if they plant it and if the offer some kind of guarantee. Enjoy shopping and post pictures when you get one bobbi_p, Luis

Congrats on the seed pod! I would go nuts if I saw a seed pod in the store! I went to Home Depot yesterday and used the last of my gift card balance on a 2 gallon Mandalay. I couldn't find any information about this one except on JJ's own website. I decided to take a chance on it because the description states very strong sweet scent. I'm realizing that I prefer plumerias with scent versus pretty flowers without scent. This flower is suppose to be pretty too. The tag photo of Mandalay kind of reminds me of a darker version of Desert Sunrise but with less veining. I also saw a Thai Splash but I had to limit myself to 1 plant. I walked around the store and saw there was another display table with various tropical plants and I saw some plumerias on it. These were 1 gallon size and $15.98 but they were not Jungle Jacks. There were pictures of various flowers on the tag and most of them had a white flower circled. They were infested with spider mites. :( It reminds me of when I went to the Lowes in Vista. They had a great selection of JJs not often available but they were infested with thrips. Now, I always carefully inspect the tips and underside of leaves before I purchase.

I don't have nearly as many years of experience as some growers here, but these traits are what I've observed under my conditions (your mileage may vary): Aussie Confetti--super fast, tall, thin grower; little branching (2 or fewer branches at inflo) Aztec Gold--fast, thick grower; little branching Celadine--average, compact grower; good branching (3 branches with consistency) Delightful--slow grower; not sure about branching Dwarf Decidious--very slow, thin, very compact grower; very good branching Edi Moragne--average, thick grower; little branching Giant Aussie Orange--average, thin grower; good branching Gladys O'Neal--average, thick grower; little branching Heirloom--slow, thin, compact grower; little branching Kimi Beauty--slow, thin, compact grower; very good branching Makaha Sunn--fast, tall, thin grower; average branching Maverick--average, thick, tall grower; average branching Moragne 78--very slow, thick grower; little branching to be continued...