GARDENS IN TAUPO

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 80, 29 July 1953, Page 7

GARDENS IN TAUPO

THE CAMELLIA, OLD AND NEW

(By

Flora )

The nair|3 Camellia was given by Linnaeus in honour of George Joseph Kamel, a botanist of the 17th eentury, whose Latinised name beeomes Camellus, from which comes "Camellia." This is one shrub you would never fail to ftnd if you visited some of the old-established gardens of New Zealand. In fact, by the middle of last eentury the Camellia was probably the most popular shrub grown in England, and its popularity soon spread to pioneer homes out here. But by the beginning of the present eentury the demand had dropped, and for years it lost favour with gardeners throughout the world. Introduced From China The first camellias were introduced into Europe about 1739. They were brought from China, where they had already been highly developed by the Chinese. Soon European nurserymen were raising seedlings of their own. By the end of the nineteenth eentury they numbered over three thousand varieties, with flowers of almost every shade from white to crimson, and of almost every form, single or double, some looking like anemones, others like water-lilies. No wonder these eyquisite waxen flowers quickly became popular. It is a shame that probably three-quarters of these early varieties have been lost to cultivation. Return to Favour Some ten or flfteen years ago the camellia came into favour again, not only in England, but all over the world, particularly in the United States of America, where there is a society with the sole purpose of making this flower popular. Recentiy in London the first "all camellia" show was held. This return to favour is partly due to new types being introduced and also to gardeners realising their value as an ornamental evergreen shrub, and to their winter flowering. Collectors are now looking for varieties of camellia which have been forgotteri for a hundred years or more. Many have already been found, some in the old walled gardens of Italy, some in the wine country of France, and not a few in the gardens of Cornwall, where apparently they did extremely well. I list a few of the varieties obtainable in New Zealand today, Some Desirable Varieties Perhaps the most talked of is Camellia reticulata, the rarest of all, and surely the most beautiful, with its ruffled pink petals surrounding the long, golden stamens. Another very desirable pink is Camellia Lady Clare, a most profuse bearer. One of the most dainty is the pale Spencer's Pink, a lovely thing. An attractive variety, Shepherd's Rod, has deep red hlooms. Two white forms of outstanding merit are Isabella and Single white. The question uppermost in our minds, when we read glowing descriptions of a favoured plant, is "will it grow satisfactorily with us?" A fe\y years ago a doubt might have been in my mind, but so changed does our climate seem that I am sure they will grow, if reasonable care is taken in choosing a sheltered position, and perhaps in giving them some protection in their early days. I have seen good specimens growing here, which had been given a northerly aspect, sheltered from the cold southerlies. The camellia belongs to the acid loving plans, so do not lime the soil. As much humus as possible is desirable, with periodic dressings of old cow manure put on as a mulch. An occasional dusting of bone dust is also beneficial. A final point of interest to note is that the Camellia belongs to the tea family.