Camellias in the Sandhills

A Talk by Matt Hunter, of Wilmington, NC for the Garden Club of the Sandhills

October 13, 2010 at the Sandhills Community College

As Recorded by Helen O. Von Salzen, Recording Secretary, GCS

Vice-President Ann-Boyd Newman introduced Matt Hunter and provided biographical information about him to the audience. According to Ann-Boyd Newman’s data sheet, Mr. Hunter is “both a Camellia expert and a Master Gardener” who has “served as both the President of the Tidewater Camellia Club and as  the State Director of the American Camellia Society” and who “currently serves as Vice-President of the ACS and (who) has been selected as President-Elect…” of the ACS.

Mr. Hunter informed the audience that Camellias, which originated in Asia, were named after a Jesuit priest named joseph Kamel (1661-1706) and introduced to Europe in 1792 and to the United States shortly thereafter.

He defined the various types of Camellia plants:

*        Camellia sinensis

*        Camellia japonica

*        Camellia reticulata

*        Camellia sasanqua

*        Hybrids and Other species.

He also described different types of flowers, distinguished by shapes and numbers of petals, such as:

*        Single

*        Semi-Double

*        Anemone

*        Rose-form Double

*        Formal Double

*        Peony-style

He provided planting instructions for Camellias;

*        Well-drained soil

*        Dappled shade

*        North or West exposure

*        Five feet, of more, apart

*        Mildly acidic soil with a ph of less than 6.0, likely near pine trees

*        Wherever azaleas or crepe myrtles grow is a good place to plant camellias

*        Plant as foundation plants, specimens, small trees, or hedges

He warned the audience that the “main killer” of camellias is planting them too deep.

He suggested that they be planted with their crowns above the soil level because they will sink when settling and need to remain “two to four inches above the surrounding ground” or they are susceptible to root rot.

He recommended membership in the American Camellia Society and had some application forms available. See www.americancamellias.org or e-mail:

ask@americancamellias.org for further information in regard to membership.

The American Camellia Society is located at 100 Massee Lane in Fort Valley, Georgia 31030 and the Toll-free Telephone number is 877-422-6355.

Mr. Hunter recommended the following varieties of Camellias for planting in the Sandhills of North Carolina and he told us that the three most popular varieties in NC are the Professor Charles S. Sargent (red, multiple petals, long-lived) and the

Lady Clare (winter bloomer with big pink flowers) and the Pink Perfection (very tough and resilient).

He told us that the Camellia reticulata that has large, red, multi-petaled flowers which is named Dr. Clifford Parks is named after a North Carolina researcher and he told us that the Gov. Mouton is the “oldest in Wilmington, at Airlie Gardens.”

Here is the list of names of camellia varieties recommended,

for the Sandhills, by Matt Hunter of the American Camellia Society: