Have you noticed the camellias in bloom around northeast Florida this month? If you would like to enjoy the camellia during its season of stunning flower, visit Washington Oaks State Park in Palm Coast, Florida, where there are several cultivars blooming right now.
Camellia originated in eastern and southern Asia, and its beautiful image is frequently featured in Asian art. In Chinese the name translates to "tea flower". On the Indian subcontinent and in Asia, leaves of Camellia sinensis are in fact the basis for tea.
There are 100–250 known species of camellia and the ornamental varieties are generally Camellia japonica, Camellia oleifera, and Camellia sasanqua, with over 3,000 hybrids and cultivars. Camellias are evergreen shrubs or small trees that can grow over 60 feet tall.
Their leaves are glossy and the flowers range from white through pink colors to red and blends of these shades. Rare yellow camellias are found in South China and Vietnam. Camellias prefer rich, acidic soils and a large amount of water, usually not tolerating drought at all.
Camellia plants have a rapid growth rate and are food plants for many butterfly species. Along with tea, camellia is also used to make a cooking oil that is widely used in Asia. Camellias were not found in gardens outside of Asia until 1739 in England, then America in 1797.
Frequently planted in woodland settings (such as Washington Oaks), camellias are highly valued for their winter flowering, setting them apart in cold weather. Flower forms include single, semi-double, double, anemone form, rose form, and formal double.
🦚Article by Connie Helena, author of The Green Orchid 🦚
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