F
ew flowering shrubs can evoke the feelings of awe and wonder
in us quite like camellias. The highly ornamental blooms, with
perfectly arranged petals, flower prodigiously from autumn,
breathing life into what can sometimes be a gloomy garden. And
when the plant is not in flower, the handsome, evergreen foliage
lends itself beautifully to landscape. Allow yourself to fall under the
spell and discover their colourful splendour.CAMELLIA DREAMING
If you were to choose one flowering shrub in your garden, make it
a camellia. Their exquisite blooms are available in an extraordinary
range of forms, including single, semi-double, semi-formal, formal,
formal-double, peony, and anemone forms, which can vary in size
from miniature to large. You’ll find them in shades of red, pink and
white, or often a combination of colours, and despite their showy
nature, they’re fairly low maintenance once established. Collectively
known as camellias, there are many different species, with Camellia
sasanqua and Camellia japonica (‘Margherita Coleoni’ opposite),
being the most common. They mostly thrive in shady areas, and
the shiny green foliage brings dark corners to life. According to
landscape director Paula Benneian of POD gardens, there’s one to
suit every garden situation, too. “Camellias range from groundcovers
through to large shrubs, so whether you’re after something low or
a feature piece, they have you covered,” she says.GARDEN GOALS
Camellias will suit any garden scheme, but seamlessly incorporating
them into the landscape depends on what you are trying to achieve in
your space, says urban horticulture expert Matthew Gerakios of Phyton
Australia. Are you trying to screen an area, create focal points or simply
brighten up a shady space? “Larger varieties of japonica camellias can
form a gorgeous evergreen backdrop to the garden and grow into
a near impenetrable hedge to screen an ugly fence, while smaller
varieties can be used as attractive understorey plantings,” explains
Matt. “Survey the garden, note potential planting spots and avoid
crowding out with plants of a similar height range.” It’s also important
to take into consideration how much space you have and the aspect,
advises Paula. “Not all camellias are the same as they range in height
and aspect requirements,” she says. “For full sun, go for sasanquas
or if you’re looking for a groundcover, try Marge Miller.”TOP LEFT: Soft, blush pink camellias are a romantic addition to the garden.
For similar, try ‘C.M. Wilson’ or ‘Mignonne’. Pick flowers and float them in a
bowl of water to continue their magic indoors. BELOW LEFT: While beautiful
as a single feature planting, camellias are absolutely charming when planted
amongst foliage plants in the garden. Here, Camellia ‘Lasca Beauty’ and
Camellia ‘Vega’ soften the architectural form of dracaena to create a beautiful
scene. OPPOSITE: One of the true delights of camellias is the enchanting carpet
of fallen petals around the shrub. Feeling inspired? If you’re after a particular
flower arrangement or colour, head to your local nursery to see what’s on offer. >“THERE’S A PLACE FOR A CAMELLIA IN EVERY GARDEN - WITH thousands
OF VARIETIES, YOU’LL FIND ONE OR MORE TO MEET YOUR NEEDS”
~ PAULA BENNEIAN, POD GARDENS