By: Don Marcotte President of the Coushatta Camellia Society funny -farm2@sbcglobal.net 

Evergreen, drought tolerant once established, offering blooms from late fall through early spring, camellias are available in many shapes, sizes and colors. There are even fragrant varieties such as High Fragrance, Fragrant Fairies, and Cinnamon Cindy, pictured above.

Easy to grow outdoors in Zones 7-10, camellias can:

* spread in front of flower beds

* define spacesas tall background shrubs

* form decorative displays on trellises for decks or patios or

* serve as specimen focal points in landscapes. Nuccio’s Bella Rossa, pictured above, offers an abundance of brilliant crimson flowers with tightly-packed petals radiating from the center. Even when not in bloom, its glossy dark green foliage adds to the quality in any garden. Camellias grow well in containers also. Fairy Blush, right above, is an excellent choice for a container on a patio or near an entryway. This is a fragrant camellia growing about 4-5′ wide and tall.

Countdown to the Camellia Journal’s Top Ten Camellias of This Generation: #10 C. ‘Red Hots’ – #9 ‘Star Above Star’ – #8 ‘Elegans Champagne’ – #7 ‘Margaret Davis’ – #6 ‘Ruta Hagman’ – #5 ‘Spring Daze’ – #4 ‘Lady Laura’ – #3 ‘Mansize’ – #2 ‘Royal Velvet’ & ‘Royal Velvet Variegated’ and #1 ‘Frank Houser’ & ‘Frank Houser Variegated.

Mr. King’s list as well as anyone else’s will be a subject for discussion amongst camellia enthusiast’s as well as others. WHAT IS YOUR 10 BEST LIST? *** Contact Don at funny-farm2@sbcglobal.net