Helenie Carmody spoke on Camellias which are native to the Orient mainly China and Japan.

The Genus Camellia has several Species and now hundreds of cultivars and hybrids.

1. SASANQUAS. "Heralds of the Season". These small shrubs flower early in Autumn through to Winter. They are versatile, grow fast and are suitable for hedges. The fragrant flowers are small to medium with ruffled single or double petals. They come in white, shades of pink and cerise as well as a variety of bi-colours.

2. JAPONICAS. "The Classics". Native to Japan and known as " The Rose of Winter". They flower in Winter to spring. The flowers come in all sizes and petal formation. The colours are pure white, soft pink to dark red. Japonicas are easily available.

3. HIGOS. "Flowers of the Sumarai". Native to Japan the Higo Camellia takes its name from the old Japanese province of Higo, now Kumamoto prefecture on the southern most island Kyushu. The beautiful flowers were particularly admired and worn by the Sumarai, the warrior noblemen of old Japan.

Actually up till the 19th century only priests and Sumarais were allowed to cultivate Higo camellias.

The Higo camellias are still being produced in Australia, but are rare and hard to get.

The late Higo Camellia grower Terry Pierson who was located in Berry NSW donated a Higo Camellia collection to the Cowra Japanese Garden.

They are healthy vigorous plants. The flowers have a single form with a a large central group of yellow stamens. The colour range is red, white, pink, bi-colour (striped) and variegated (blotched).

4. RETICULATS. "The Glamour Girls". Reticulata were introduced to Australia 31 years ago. They are the largest flowering of all the Camellia groups. The spectacular flowers are 20 cm in diameter with colour shades from pink to red. The name refers to the strong veining or reticulated pattern in the leaves. The bush has open branches and grows to 8 metres. They are often grafted onto the rootstock of a sasanqua Camellia, which makes them expensive. They are hard to find.

5. SENENSIS. "The tea tree" or bush. The Camellia tea tree was cultivated in China over two thousand years ago. It is one of the most beautiful autumn flowering evergreen shrubs. The flowers are small white with yellow stamens. plants have small fragrant white flowers with yellow stamens. They suitable for hedges, containers and small backyards. Note that the added bonus if we grow this Camellia is that we can make our own tea.

6. Planting Camellias. The best time to plant camellias is when they are flowering and the roots are dormant. Camellias need a sheltered position. Close to the house in south easterly position. The soil should be friable, (crumbly) and slightly acidic. Water the plant first. Dig the hole twice as deep and twice as wide as the root ball and plant level with the soil surface taking care not to disturb the roots, back fill, water well and mulch ensuring that the mulch does not touch the trunk. Be careful not to disturb the roots.Camellias have shallow or surface roots, so it is important not to let them dry out during the warm weather, especially as they can take up to two years to form new roots. If they dry they can go into shock and die.

7. Feeding camellias. Camellia food is available in various garden related stores. I feed my camellias only tea leaves or tea grains from the tea bags.Pruning is not necessary. Just cut off the dead wood and if desired shape the bush.

The next garden club meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 4 at the Catherine McAuley Centre commencing at 7pm.

The guest speaker will be the award winning landscape designer horticulturist Glenice Buck.

Glenice will show slides and speak about her expertise.

All are welcome.

Contact Helenie on 0427 710 777 or Moya on 0413 853 642.