Of all the plants that grow well in Napa Valley, camellias are among the stars. They shine from October through April, with their glossy evergreen leaves and variety of blooms and growth patterns.
My first visit to the annual Napa Valley Camellia Society show was an eye opener. Long ago, I thought that camellias were just flowers that plop onto the ground after blooming, leaving a mess to clean up, so I was astonished with the beauty before me as I entered the show. All messy images instantly disappeared.
This year's show will be particularly special because camellia lovers from as far away as New Zealand, all members of the American Camellia Society, will be joining the Napa group for the annual national convention.
On Saturday, February 2, the Napa Valley Camellia Society will again present its exquisite show from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Napa Senior Center. The public is encouraged to attend. There is no admission fee.
If you grow camellias, you may want to bring one of your favorites to be judged. You might win a prize. More importantly, you can learn a few facts about these incredible flowers before you run to a nursery to buy them.
There are six different types of camellias: single, semi-double, formal double, rose form, peony and anemone. All have clusters of golden stamens.
Camellias are evergreen shrubs or small trees first discovered in Asia. You can see them in the older sections of downtown Napa, still healthy after many years.
Known as understory plants, they grow well under Douglas fir, redwood and old oak trees. These trees provide protection from the elements and a greenhouse effect to help keep the camellia roots healthy and warm.
Camellias are almost carefree and, in my experience, withstand drought and moderate frost. The major problem is exposure to hot summer afternoon sun and drying winds.
Camellia blight, a fungal disease, turns the flowers an ugly brown. The disease is common in rainy years, with white and pale pink varieties especially susceptible. In general, camellias like cool winters, lightly acid soil and excellent water drainage. They thrive in filtered shade and in soil rich with organic matter. In other words, they do well in conditions that mimic the forest locations where they were first found.
For camellia care, it is easier to tell you what not to do. Camellias have a shallow root system, so avoid any digging that might injure delicate feeder roots. They respond well to a thick layer of organic mulch to help protect these roots. They don't need any particular pruning, although cutting out thick foliage that might prevent air circulation may be helpful. You may also remove any branches that seem out of place.
Camellias need moderate watering, with perhaps a bit more during hot summer weather. Use a camellia fertilizer in the spring after flowering, following directions on the package. In the fall, use only 0-10-10 fertilizer to promote healthy roots and flowering.
Although there are hundreds of different camellia species, only a few are considered show-worthy. These are the popular Camellia japonica, C. reticulata and crosses between these two species. Large blossoms are four to five inches across, very large ones over five inches.
Other species are notable for other uses and characteristics. Sasanqua camellias may be grown as landscape shrubs, container plants, espaliers, hedges and bonsai specimens. Their flowers are considered small to medium, at two and a half to three inches across, but other characteristics make them desirable landscape plants. They drop their petals one by one and some are fragrant. One of my favorites, ‘Jean May', is a delicate shell pink reminiscent of a fragile china cup, yet it withstands rain and frost. My newest Sasanqua, ‘Old Glory', is so lovely, with large white wavy petals that remind me of a rare butterfly.
C. sinensis provides us with tea, and C. oleifera gives us cooking oil. The species camellia, C. nitidissima, known as the golden camellia, is used to introduce the color yellow into other camellias. Another species, C. lutchuensis, provides fragrance in hybrids.
Most camellias bloom in variations of pink, red and white. Occasionally a sport will appear on a branch, with blossoms that display white stripes or blotches or other unusual markings that differ from the original color. This sport is the result of a systemic viral mutation. It doesn't seem to harm the plant; in fact, some hybridizers duplicate this mutation with lovely results. Look for these mutations when you go to the show. See you there. I'll be wearing a camellia on my lapel.
Master Gardeners are volunteers who help the University of California reach the gardening public with home gardening information. Napa County Master Gardeners (http://napamg.ucanr.edu) are available to answer gardening questions in person or by phone, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to Noon, at the U. C. Cooperative Extension office, 1710 Soscol Avenue, Suite 4, Napa, 707-253-4221 or e-mail your garden questions by following the guidelines on our web site. Click on Napa, then on Have Garden Questions?