Gardening with Gael: Camellia hybrids improve colour and fragrance

25 July, 2022

Continued from last issue:

Camellia hybrids were developed to improve attributes of known camellias.

An excellent variety of a hybrid is the camellia ‘Nicky Crisp’. Bred in New Zealand this camellia has a distinctive spring-like flower. It reminds me of blossoms on fruit trees. The petals are double and a clear pink which fades into the yellow centre. Compact growth habit (grows to 1.5m x 1.0m) makes it suitable for containers. I have used it for a low hedge, the extended period of flowering and tidy growth makes it suitable for any size garden. The leaves are slightly smaller than its japonica parent.

Popular hybrids include ‘Donation’, an early hybrid with a large semi-double bloom of orchid pink and a semi-double vivid, glowing red camellia called ‘Jamie’.

Not generally known for their fragrance, hybridising camellias to produce a pleasing fragrance began in the 1960s. A really old camellia book of mine published in the ‘80s cites the fact that fragrant camellias may still be five years away. Happily there are now many fragrant camellias. I have grown two: ‘Scentsation’ (pink) and ‘Scentuous’ (white), both fragrant with beautiful flowers. However, I have just read about one that sounds utterly desirable… .

Camellia ‘High fragrance’ was raised here in New Zealand. It produces my favourite flower form of fully double peony in a soft pink. And, from all I can read about it, it also has a vigorous growth habit which I would appreciate. Like all camellias it thrives in organically rich sites. Rotted grass clippings are exactly what it requires. Here on the coast, keep camellias away from salt winds. They do not like it at all. This is from experience 30 years ago establishing the gardens at the cottages. On the edge of the bush, behind the house, anywhere that bears the brunt of the salt laden winds, and they will reward you with their abundance of flowers. I find a flattish bowl with the blooms floating is a lovely way to display them.

Camellias can be espaliered. Building on the side of a sandhill means my garden has variety of retaining walls. We seem to have them everywhere and I have been struggling to think of ways to use them. Across the back of the house I am growing creeper which will hang down.

Under the house is another one beside the drive. Researching the camellias I came across a photo of a camellia espaliered on a fence and ‘ding’, a lightbulb in my head exploded. Shaded, sheltered, close to a hose and with a good amount of

gravel in the sand on the edge, the site is perfect in almost all ways. The one negative is, due to the steepness of the drive, it will have to be concrete and a degree of lime, not enjoyed by camellias in any way, will leech slowly. I am going to have to think of ways to mitigate this. Regular supplies of organic matter and pine needles may just do it.

I have chosen ‘Dr Clifford Parkes’ for its clear red flowers. It is a hybrid of japonica and reticulata, the latter giving it the long arching branches I will need for my espaliering. Reputed to be vigorous I look forward to training branches and enjoying the spectacle.

Bred in New Zealand, the pretty pink ‘Nicky Crisp’ is a must-have for camellia lovers.