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16
Every spring a few of our members
remember one of our (Hume) founding
members, Claude Jarick, when ‘Jarick’s
Surprise’ brightens up many local gardens
early in the camellia season.
Dr. Bob Withers was our most informative
guest speaker on several occasions, and a
camellia named after his wife, Hari is the
only camellia to be featured on an
Australian postage stamp. He named a
pale pink reticulata after his daughter
Suzanne, and this one is often referred to
as ‘the mother superior’ because of the
outstanding seedlings it has produced.
One of these he named after his great
friend, the late Alan Raper, father of
Andrew, whom many of us know as the
dynamic personality at Rhodo Glen
Nursery.
In conclusion, let us pay homage to the
outstanding plantsman Dr Bob Withers
who held the highest awards in Australia in
the Camellia, Lilium, and Rhododendron
Societies and the Order of Australia for
services to horticulture. As well as all this
he was awarded the Veitch Medal by the
Royal Horticultural Society of Great
Britain, its highest award for overseas
horticulturists.
Dr Ross Hayter was Camellias Australia
and Hume Camellia Society President and
an Australian delegate to the International
Camellia Society for many years. Dr.
Hayter passed away in May 2013 at the
age of 91 years.
John Hadlow
THE CHARACTER BEHIND THE CAMELLIA (cont’d)
Camellia hybrid “Lady Gowrie”
NSW CAMELLIA NSW CAMELLIA NSW CAMELLIA
RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH
SOCIETY INC.SOCIETY INC.SOCIETY INC.
Affiliate of Camellias Australia Inc.Affiliate of Camellias Australia Inc.Affiliate of Camellias Australia Inc.
www.camelliasnsw.orgwww.camelliasnsw.orgwww.camelliasnsw.org
NEWSLETTERNEWSLETTER Issue No: 4Issue No: 4 May 2014May 2014 Price: $1.50Price: $1.50
ContentsContentsContents
From The President;
Camellia Calendar;
Appeal for helpers at the Annual Show in July;
Cultural Notes for May;
Editor’s Camellia Sasanqua Photos and Other Photos;
Interesting articles on the naming of Camellias by the late
Dr. Ross Hayter a former President of Hume Camellia
Society and a rerun of an article by Chris and Helen
Chapman on Camellia Culture at Silverdale (NSW)
Country Corner features articles by Brian Kerr and David
Maher
Our Next Monthly Meeting will be held on Monday 19th Our Next Monthly Meeting will be held on Monday 19th Our Next Monthly Meeting will be held on Monday 19th May 2014 at 7.45pmMay 2014 at 7.45pmMay 2014 at 7.45pm
Welcome address by President Richie Griffiths;
Special Guest Speaker is John Robb who will talk about C.
sinensis (the Tea Camellia) and new camellias at Paradise;
Monthly Bloom Competition is in full swing this month;
Donation Prize draw camellia is C.s. ‘Ruby Bells’ kindly
donated by Bill Parker of Camellias-R-Us;
Supper
2
Patron Her Excellency Marie Bashir AC CVO
President Richie Griffiths
39 Hazelmead Road Asquith 2077
rgriffiths@ryde.nsw.gov.au
0418 200139
(mobile)
Vice President Pam Watson
12 Knights Road Galston 2159
Email: pamandalan@pacific.net.au
9653 1036
Secretary Margaret Levick
73 Roland Ave Wahroonga 2076
9489 4482
Treasurer Dale Andrews
Email: dale.andrews@tpg.com.au
N/A
Public Officer Peter Levick
Membership Secretary Margaret Levick
Committee Peter Levick (Immediate Past President)
Richard Fischer
7/70 Albert St Hornsby 2077
Diana Herrald
6 Lisgar Road Hornsby 2077
Marion Moyes
3 Walpole Place Wahroonga 2076
Juliet Muras
11 Ackling Road Baulkham Hills 2153
Liz Navin
PO Box 2515 Bowral 2576
Email: eyeorre@bigpond.com
9489 4482
9476 3141
9482 4487
9489 5363
9639 5445
4871 1146
Newsletter Editor and
Producer
John Hadlow
17 Tudor Place St Ives Chase 2075
9449 8989
Librarian Bill Fleming
National Councillors Richie Griffiths & Marion Moyes
Email Address nswcamellias@hotmail.com
Website www.camelliasnsw.org
NSW CNSW CNSW CAMELLIAAMELLIAAMELLIA RESEARCHRESEARCHRESEARCH SOCIETYSOCIETYSOCIETY INCINCINC A.B.N. 16 873 158 367A.B.N. 16 873 158 367A.B.N. 16 873 158 367 Reg. No. Y17693Reg. No. Y17693Reg. No. Y17693---474747
15
Waterhouse’, named after his wife and
C.h. ‘ Margaret Waterhouse’, after his
daughter-in-law, all still grown today.
He and celebrated flower painter, Paul
Jones, scoured the old cemeteries around
Sydney for long forgotten camellias, and
one that caught their eye was the one they
named C.j. ‘Paul Jones Supreme’, the log
of the Narrandera Garden Club.
Professor Waterhouse was one of the
founding members of the Australian
Camellia Research Society, together with
Walter Hazlewood, Alex Jessop and Dr.
Merrillees.
The Melbourne enthusiasts were not far
behind their Sydney friends, with Neville
and Erica McMinn establishing their
nursery on Dandenong Road and
importing many cultivars from overseas.
They produced camellias that bear the
names of Erica and their daughter Robyn.
While the McMinns were establishing their
commercial camellia nursery, Fred
Tuckfield was involved in building up his
tea importing and blending business,
competing successfully against the then
giants, Bushells and Inglis’s ‘Billy Tea’.
Tuckfield aggressively advertised his as ‘
Tuckfield’s Tiny Tips Tea’ and gained a
substantial share of the market. His
enthusiasm for C. sinensis only
encouraged him in his hobby in the pursuit
of getting better C. reticulatas. His C.r. x s.
‘ Fred Tuckfield’ was a show winner in its
day, but like so many others they are
seldom seen.
Edgar Sebire and his wife Beryl in the
Lower Dandenong Ranges had acres of
reticulatas on their property and they
named many after their relatives, including
Edgar’s pioneering grandfather Wandin
Sebire. This camellia is still seen, but most
of the Sebire camellias have gone the way
of Fred Tuckfield’s.
Our own camellia doyen was the late Tom
Savige . Inspite of having many of his
introductions registered, not one bears his
name. He did name one for his father, C.j.
‘Thomas Walter Savige’ and for his wife.
Harry Churchland suggested the name
C.j. ‘Sweet Olive’. Tom registered C.j’s ‘
Celeste Olivia’ and ‘Nicole’ for their
granddaughters and C.r. x ‘ Hilary
Tramonte’ for one of their daughters.
Hilary was not overjoyed, as she never
really liked the big blousy ones.
John Hall now operates the nursery at Tea
Tree Gulley in South Australia. His late
father is always remembered for the out-
standing little double C.j. ‘Roger Hall’.
John Hunt of Melbourne loves his
reticulatas and has used his own name,
his wife’s name Phyllis and son’s name
Tony as camellia names.
Ray Garnett does hundreds of controlled
hybridizations, but registers very few. His
C.x ‘Sweet Emily Kate’ and C.x. ‘Sweet
Jane’ are well known to us. They are
named for his grand-daughters.
Geoff Sherrington, after many, many
hours of work, has just released a
compact disc with photographs of almost
all Australian camellia registrations. The
slides of C.r.x ‘Colleen Sherrington’ and
C.j. ‘Paul Sherrington’ are certainly worthy
of inclusion.
THE CHARACTER BEHIND THE CAMELLIA (cont’d)
14
WHAT’S IN A NAME? WHO WAS.....? WHO IS.....? OR IN
OTHER WORDS THE CHARACTER BEHIND THE CAMELLIA
(by the late DR. ROSS HAYTER, HUME CAMELLIA SOCIETY - Article Reprinted
from Camellia News Autumn 2007 and with thanks to Hume Camellia Society
Inc., November 2006 Newsletter)
Ever since camellia enthusiasts began
giving names to their outstanding
seedlings, they have tended to name them
after special friends or celebrities.
Australia’s first hybridizer of note was un-
doubtedly William Macarthur of Camden
Park. He never named one after himself,
preferring Greek historical and
mythological characters. He used the
imported camellia japonica ‘Anemoniflora’
as one of his seed parents for many of his
hybridizations as all the stamens (male
part) are replaced by petaloids with the
pistil (female part) standing conveniently
above.
He reported in a letter dated 1845 that he
had five hundred seedlings raised mainly
from this old camellia. C.j. ‘Anemoniflora’
was imported to England in 1806 from
China where it was called ‘Precious Pearl
Camellia’, a strange name since it is such
a strong red. It is thought that the William
Macarthur named C.j. ‘Aspasia’ had this
parentage. It was later found that the
name ‘Aspasia' had been previously used
so ‘Aspasia’ was renamed ‘Aspasia
Macarthur’. It follows then that this
camellia is not named after one real
person, but two. After over two thousand
years Aspasia has been quoted as being
the mother, the wife and mistress of
Pericles, a general and administrator in
Greece when it was at the height of its
cultural and political power in the
Mediterranean. We can conclude that
Aspasia, whatever her position, was a
woman of great influence.
The camellia world is forever grateful to
this outstanding camellia C.j. ‘Aspasia
Macarthur, as it has produced many sports
because of its relatively unstable genetic
make-up. Due to this characteristic , it
sported in 1889 to the cultivar ‘Lady Loch’,
named to honour the wife of the Governor
of Victoria. She was a great admirer of
camellias. Another sport occurred in
Sydney in 1958, and was named
‘Margaret Davis’ a great garden enthusiast
and founder of The Garden Clubs of
Australia. Overseas this is probably our
best-loved camellia introduction. Margaret
Davis also has an iris and an azalea
named for her.
With the fall in the popularity of camellias
in the early 20th century, we appear to
have a long gap in the introduction of new
cultivars. After the end of World War II,
this all changed rapidly due to the
availability of C. saluenensis from England
and the C. reticulatas from Yunnan, China.
Language professor at the University of
Sydney, E. G. Waterhouse, was the first in
Australia to import the ‘ Sunnybank’ form
of C. saluenensis and was soon producing
many so-called ‘williamsii’ hybrids,
including the ever-popular one named
after himself. There were many others
including ‘Lady Gowrie’, named after the
wife of the Governor of New South Wales.
He also produced C.j. ‘ Janet (cont’d
overleaf)
3
From the President
Welcome to the May Newsletter. And a welcome to a respite from the constant
rain of the last month or so; it only seems a short while ago that everything
was wilting and frying from the driest January in several decades. I don’t think
we will ever be happy as gardeners!
But there should be no room for complaint with the flowering season so far –
the display produced by the sasanquas in Sydney’s suburbs is without peer,
and considering that 99% of those plants would have had no care or attention,
speaks volumes to their adaptability and robustness. And, as if not to be
outdone, some early japonicas are putting on an equally impressive display.
Unfortunately, the timing of our regular meeting with Easter Monday prevented
the Society from holding our April gathering. I think I speak for those who
regularly attend our meetings, when I say that I cannot wait to bench some of
the fine, early blooms that most of us have growing in our gardens.
Considering we have not gathered for two months, it would be nice to see
some new faces come to this month’s meeting (as well as some familiar faces
of those who may not have been to a recent meeting).
With the show season almost upon us, our monthly meeting is a great
opportunity to gain some advice from experienced judges on the best way to
present blooms and find out what judges are looking for in a champion bloom.
Also, many unusual and rare cultivars can be seen in the flesh , as well as
having the chance to obtain propagating material from other members. You
may also get to see unnamed seedlings, that have produced their first flowers,
and that may one day be as common place as Great Eastern or Elegans.
Whilst on the topic of Annual Shows, in the next month the planning and
execution of the show preparations will commence in earnest. The successful
staging of our show requires many volunteers, not only on the show days, but
also for the setting up on the Thursday morning prior to the show. If you are
available to assist at any time over the three days, please get in contact with
myself or any committee members.
Finally, if any members wish to contribute to our monthly newsletter, please drop a line to our editor. John will be more than happy to receive contributions, regardless of how brief. It is great to receive your feedback.
See you at our meeting!
Richie Griffiths
4
May 2014
19th May Monthly Meeting
22nd May Morning Tea at 10am at Eden Gardens with a speaker from Cancer Council NSW; be entertained by the Denistone East School Choir; plant a daffodil in memory of someone you love - bulbs and equipment provided; write a message for the Daffodil Tree; enjoy the Decorated Hat Competition. $15 per person on the day (gold coin donation for bulb); all profits to Cancer Council NSW. RSVP to 02 9491 9900, at reception or email with NSW in the subject line: info@edengardens.com.au. 301/307 Lane Cove Rd, North Ryde NSW 2113.
June 2014
16th June Monthly Meeting; National President, Jim Powell ,will give a demonstration on propagation by grafting camellia cuttings
July 2014
12th & 13th July Annual Camellia Show at Ravenswood Girls’ School
21st July Monthly Meeting
August 2014
15th - 18th August Wildwood Gardens’ Camellia Show; 29 Powells Road, Bilpin; tel: 4567-2194; www.wildwoodgarden.com.au
18th August Monthly Meeting
September 2014
12-15th September * National Show & Camellia Congress, Canberra*
15th September Monthly Meeting
October 2014
20th October Monthly Meeting
November 2014
2014 Camellia Calendar
The NSW Camellia Research Society meets on the third Monday of
every month February to November inclusive at the Baptist Church Hall,
corner of Park Avenue and Garden Square, Gordon at 7.45pm
13
Regular Contributor, David Maher, writes about his
Camellia Hedge
The Hedge of Camellia Sasanqua ‘Margaret Lyle’
photographed on 28th April 2014, David’s 83rd Birthday!
(photo is shown on page 9 of this newsletter)
The hedge of Camellia sasanqua ‘Margaret Lyle’ was planted on 14th
December 2010, in a deep mix of 80% potting mix and 20% turf underlay soil.
Both products were obtained from a landscape supplier after I did a pH test on
each. Under this mix were some bags of horse manure. The plants, obtained
from Camellias-R-Us, have grown splendidly and show the benefit of a deep
depth of planting mix, that is 80 cms., and a spacing of 90 cms. The tallest of
the plants is now 1.5 metres.
When I planted, I was one plant short owing to my mis-calculation. Thankfully,
James, who works at Camellias-R-Us, was able to procure a plant from a
private source because the nursery did not have any plants in stock. Hence, I
am indebted to James for the quality of his customer service and for his
tenacious detective work.
The photograph of the flower provides convincing evidence of its
attractiveness to bees.
Anne and I will be attending the Camellia Convention and are looking forward
to the opportunity to put some faces to names.
With every good wish,
David Maher
12
Country Corner We are fortunate this month to have the following two articles from our country
members and thank them for their contributions.
Brian Kerr of Yellow Rock, NSW 2777 writes about how the October 2013
bushfires caused significant damage to his garden but luckily did not damage
his home.
Camellias: The Green Phoenix
Last October our 2 acre property at
Yellow Rock in NSW’s Blue
Mountains was engulfed by the worst
bushfire the area has seen. The
devastation was widely televised.
Many neighbours and friends lost their
homes. I believe that our house was
undamaged largely due to garden
design and I thought members might
like some information.
Our house sits in 1400 square meters
of lawn that is then surrounded by
woodland garden beds, dominated by
camellias. On the side of the house
facing the fire front there is a
protective planting of mainly
camellias, plus azaleas and other
suitable companion plants amongst a
few large gum trees. There is a
murraya hedge separated from the
house wall by 10 metres of lawn.
I have found camellias to be incredibly
fire resistant. They will brown off due
to extreme heat, but almost without
exception will not burn. The heat has
killed all but the tallest plants, with
everything within its reach dehydrating
and dying. The garden, however, has
protected the house from embers and
radiant heat admirably.
Soil is a wonderful insulator and our
beautiful camellias are tougher than
they look. I worked hard to rebuild the
melted automated watering system
within a week of the fire and get water
to the plants quickly. I applied Seasol
with soil wetting agent to all plants. I
then waited to identify survivors,
looking for new shoots on branches,
before cutting the dead tops back to
soil level. The dead plants were
extremely light, having been totally
dehydrated. Many of these plants are
sending up multiple new shoots from
the root ball and growing rapidly. Its
now a waiting game to see which
plants will not come back before
replacing losses.
The rate of recovery of camellias
whose above ground parts had died is
quite high with Star Above Star hedge
for example showing almost total
recovery i.e. 29 out of 30 plants at 6
months. Patience should be rewarded
with more recoverers. Other plants to
rise from the ashes after the fire
include bulbs (of course), but also
crepe myrtles, michellias, magnolias,
gardenias, deciduous azaleas,
gingers, vibernum, some evergreen
azaleas and buddleia. Brian Kerr
5
Next Monthly Meeting is on Monday 19th May 2014 at 7.45pm at
the Baptist Church Hall, Park Avenue, Gordon
Program
Opening remarks from President Richie Griffiths
Special Guest Speaker is John Robb of Paradise Plants who will talk about tea camellia (C. sinensis) and new camellias at the nursery;
The Monthly Bloom Competition revs up again this month so why not come along and test your blooms against the regular entrants - many newcomers have been successful in the past;
Richie Griffiths and Richard Fischer will answer any camellia-related questions you may have;
Donation Camellia Plant is C.s x Williamsii ‘Ruby Bells’. Tickets are still only $1 each or 3 for $2. Thanks to Bill Parker of Camellias-R-Us (see advertisement on back page) for donating the plant; and
As usual, the evening ends with a friendly chat and a light supper; if you are able to come please endeavour to bring along a plate of something to share.
FROM THE EDITOR
ANNUAL SHOW AT RAVENSWOOD 12 & 13 JULY 2014 REQUEST FOR VOLUNTEERS
Our Annual Show is fast approaching and your Committee and Show
Manager (Richie Griffiths) have been organising preparations for some while.
Last year’s Show was an amazing success and this year we are keen to
emulate or surpass it. Clearly, the success of such an event is only possible
with the help of members and we call upon you to offer to assist with the
Show.
We shall need assistance with hall set-up (preparing bloom tables, catering,
entrance and information tables etc.) on the morning of Thursday, 10th July
and volunteers to help with the different roles during the weekend of the Show
including welcoming visitors and taking entrance fees, manning the
information desk for new members, selling raffle tickets, selling plants and
minding prize tables. If you can help us please contact Richie Griffiths on his
mobile or email (details on page: 2.) or a committee member. Thank you!
John Hadlow
6
Cultural Notes for MAY 2014Cultural Notes for MAY 2014Cultural Notes for MAY 2014
The following is a list of Sasanqua cultivars that may be utilised for various situations
discussed in last month’s cultural notes. This list is by no means a definitive one that
should restrict your choices. The intention of this list is to be a starting point for further
investigation. With hundreds of cultivars easily available with an increasing list of new
additions each year, seek further advice from experts as to what would be the best
options for your own situation.
Large specimen trees
Russhay - semi double, pale orchid pink with darker shadowing in centre
Setsugekka – large, single, white with fluted petals
Plantation Pink – large single, soft pink cupped flowers
Edna Butler – large single, silvery pink
Specimen tree for small gardens
Paradise Blush – semi-double white with pink reverse
Jennifer Susan – informal double, clear pink
Red Willow – semi double, red-pink with willow-like growth
Mine no Yuki – double pure white with pendulous laterals
Egao – deep pink semi-double, variegated form also available
Espaliered or other trained growth
Shishi Gashira - semi double, bright rose with slow layered growth
Pure Silk - informal double of medium size with pink buds opening white
Bonanza – Informal double of strong Burgundy colour
Bert Jones – large semi double of silvery pink tones
Chansonette – small formal double in deep lavender pink
Pot specimens
Otome-Sazanka – small informal double in delicate pink with cupped petals
Dwarf Shishi – small, semi double of bright pink
Yuletide – small, single brilliant red with prominent yellow stamens
Paradise Baby Jane – semi double white edged pink
Ground covers
Marge Miller – semi double mid pink
Snow – semi double very pale pink to white
As stated previously, this is only a starting point to investigate your options. Sasanquas provide so much for any location and situation, with almost no fuss or bother, and they will keep giving for decades. Yes, they are great formal hedges, but they can offer so
much more. Richie Griffiths 11
Living in Silverdale, flowering and new
growth tend to be two to three weeks later
than in Sydney metropolitan area.
Throughout Summer the main task for us
is watering, if rain is not forthcoming, also
removing small growth shoots on show
varieties. After Christmas, show bushes
receive a small amount of fertiliser again,
when raining. Towards the end of summer
aphids are occasionally found on the ends
of new growth but again this is not a real
problem; either hose them or give them a
short spray of pyrethrum and white oil.
Some sasanquas may require new growth
to be removed from the top of the bush just
to keep them tidy.
Autumn is what we have been waiting for.
Sasanquas are in flower. Japonicas have
buds swelling with the occasional early
variety throwing some blooms. We remove
any buds on our show varieties that are
starting to open too early before the
shows. Exhibiting in monthly club events,
opening blooms are removed generally
one to two weeks before the show
depending on each particular variety.
Some varieties show colour for a long time
so be careful not to remove these buds.
Observation over a period of time will allow
you to judge which blooms to remove. As
the winter winds pick up, watch your
watering as buds want moisture to flower
properly, but don’t have the ground like a
bog. Watering can be eased back during
winter.
Parts of this article may not suit the
particular area you live. It is quite
surprising how light intensity can affect
flowering. Even in our garden two or three
of the same variety placed on the eastern
and south-west sides of the garden vary
the flowering by about three to four weeks.
This does help if you are travelling to
shows that are later than your normal local
shows, such as Sydney, Wollongong,
Nowra, Bowral and further south.
We hope this article helps you, whether
you are growing camellias for garden
appearance or exhibition in shows.
Footnote: Its obvious to me that if you want
to win at camellia shows like Chris and
Helen it requires a substantial effort the
whole year round!
John Hadlow
Camellia Culture at Silverdale (NSW) (cont’d)
by Chris and Helen Chapman
10
We try and have our potting done by No-
vember. Our potted camellias are good
show varieties. Pot size is increased by
approx. 50 mm (2”) giving us two years
per pot. When pots reach 600 mm that is
as far as we go. I find 600 mm pots heavy
enough to move, let alone 900 mm. Any
plant that is in a 600 mm pot and needs
repotting is removed and the roots pruned
with a spade, then repotted and fertilised.
Heavy pruning is essential for excellent
show varieties with a little fertiliser every
four to six weeks. The plants that are
repotted receive a little slow release ferti-
liser in the bottom of the pot and sprinkled
on top after repotting. We have tried every
fertiliser imaginable from pellet fertilisers
(the plant variety) to Nitro Phoska which is
used by rose growers for good show
blooms. To us the blooms seem the same
so a little pellet fertiliser every few weeks
and regular Seasol solution is enough. If
exhibiting, remove any buds which are
restricted when opening, two per branch
or two at the end and one below, if you
are doing a lot of shows.
Remove any new growth as the buds are
forming, keep a watering programme as it
only takes one hot day, if the pots are one
day past their watering and you could
have bud damage or foliage damage.
Pots should be thoroughly drenched when
watering; we find 200 mm pots require
water every three days, larger pots one to
two days longer. All our potted camellias
are japonicas, hybrids and several retics
which only last a few years in pots. We
then plant the retics in the ground, but
while in pots they are kept heavily pruned.
In our garden we have many camellias
from sasanquas to japonicas, hybrids and
retics. The sasanquas when blooming,
form a lovely bed of petals and are al-
lowed to grow to a height of 2.0 m which
can be reached without ladders etc. Nor-
mally on heavy wood we use a chainsaw
but on thin growth we use a hedger. Some
branches splinter but you only get more
shoots and thicker growth. Time does not
permit pruning by hand on sasanquas and
they are not fertilised. Many just receive
natural rainfall but still grow well.
In the case of japonicas and hybrids we
try to finish the pruning by the end of
spring. Bushes are pruned to 2.0 m in
height with good show varieties receiving
more pruning, especially the centre of the
bush. One large handful of pellet fertiliser
is applied after flowering when we have a
good wet weekend. At Silverdale (near
Warragamba Dam) believe me wet week-
ends are not common, so some hand wa-
tering is necessary to produce good
blooms.
In the case of retics planted in the ground,
again we have kept them to a managea-
ble, as you know they reach for the sky
before you realise it and all the blooms
are too high to reach. I must say, though,
having seen retics that have been left to
grow into small trees, they look magnifi-
cent when flowering. Our bushes are ferti-
lised at the same time as the japonicas.
Pruning of all retics is generally completed
by November.
Camellia Culture at Silverdale (NSW)
by Chris and Helen Chapman (This is a very worthwhile reprint of an article from Camellia News, Spring 2005)
7
Camellia Sasanqua ‘Mine -No-Yuki’ (By Cec Blumenthal, Newsletter May 1997)
‘Mine-no-Yuki’ translated as Snow on the Ridge or Mountain, is a sasanqua with attractive growth habit and charming snow white, semi-double to irregular double flowers with squarish petals. At times fresh flowers may be formal double. As a young, vigorous plant it has pleasing pendulous growth with long flowering laterals. The mature plant becomes a large tree with spreading branches and dark green leaves. As with other sasanquas the small leaves make them desirable landscaping plants. However, when planted near a driveway or a path they require a lot of trimming to keep the way clear, and, at flowering time, the fallen flower petals require daily sweeping. A better way when planting near paths is to use the espalier method. The long laterals and vigorous growth make this cultivar an ideal one for this purpose. Careful selection of a plant for espalier is essential. Preferably it should have a flat back, laterals both sides, one or two verticals and the distance from ground level to the side shoots should be right for the position.
Sometimes it might have leaf variegation. This led to some discussion in this branch (Sydney) some 35 years ago as there was another cultivar illustrated in a Japanese catalogue with similar flowers, variegated foliage and an upright growth. Some members thought that they had the cultivar ‘Fuji-no-mine’ but the differences were so slight that it was never resolved with any certainty that they were other than ‘Mine-no-yuki’ growing under different conditions from the usual.
One reason for lack of determination of the possibility of its being a separate cultivar was the fact that, at least, the variegated plant I happened to inspect was heavily variegated and consequently the lack of strong vigorous laterals and the poorer growth could be attributed to the variegation rather than to a difference in cultivars. Since then I have often wondered if the variegation was genetic, and that this was the difference between the two cultivars.
With thanks to Cec Blumenthal
If there is a camellia that you have a special liking for or interest please drop me a line about it. Thank you.
John Hadlow
8
C. s. Setsugekka These cicadas made a deafening noise throughout the summer
C. s. Frosted Star C.s. Otome-sazanka
Editor’s Own Camellia Sasanquas Photos and Visitors!Editor’s Own Camellia Sasanquas Photos and Visitors!Editor’s Own Camellia Sasanquas Photos and Visitors!
C. s. Yuletide C.s. Shichifukujin
9
PHOTOS OF INTEREST
David & Anne Maher’s Hedge of
C.sasanqua ‘Margaret Lyle’
David & Anne’s pretty float bowl containing
‘Margaret Lyle’ and Euphorbia
“Diamond Frost’
Richie Griffiths’s stunning Paradise Blush
Richie’s Shishigashira growing to its full
potential
Dale Andrews’s entry in the RHS
Show section ‘On The Wild Side’
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