Cold Spell Damages Flowers

Recently I posted an article about Sasanqua Camelias VS Japonica Camleias. In that post I wrote the following:

I prefer the Sasanqua over the Japonica. On the crystal coast the Japonica blooms in December and January. Sometimes our coastal winds and sudden cold spells burn the buds and blooms. At Thanksgiving the weather is warmer and the sasanqua is a show stopper. So even though the Japonica flowers are larger and fuller than the sasanqua, Japonica blooms can ruin quickly with a atypical cold spell.

Well, during the past two weeks low tempertures have damaged the Japonica Camelias blooms as you can see in the photos. Even though the Camelias at the retreat are very large and old growth the blooms have been hurt by the dips in the temperture. The buds show dark spots caused by the weather so I don't know how many flowers will open after this cold spell.

Until a few weeks ago there had been lots of rain and rather mild temperatures so the early blooms were huge this year and beautiful in color.

Every Christmas my mother would decorate the farmhouse with the Camelias. I've kept this tradition but not this year!

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Colorful Fall Flowers

Sasanqua Camellia, native to Japan and the Ryukyu Islands, is one of my favorite foundation plantings. Its dark green waxy foliage alone is enough to have a place in the garden landscape. The sasanqua, however has an added fall surprise with its indescribable show of of pink and red blossoms. There are clusters of buds and profuse blossoms equal to colorful spring flowers. And when fall colors are predominant, this splash of pink and red really stands out.


Petals fall to the ground around the base of the shrub making a carpet of color, adding to the beauty


The sasanqua is not as large as the well known Japonica Camellia and better suited for small spaces. It is a densely branched evergreen with pyramidal to oval-rounded shape. It grows about 6-10’ high with lustrous dark green leaves and 2-3” flowers and can be pruned to a tree like shape.


I prefer the Sasanqua over the Japonica. On the crystal coast the Japonica blooms in December and January. Sometimes our coastal winds and sudden cold spells burn the buds and blooms. At Thanksgiving the weather is warmer and the sasanqua is a show stopper. So even though the Japonica flowers are larger and fuller than the sasanqua, Japonica blooms can ruin quickly with a atypical cold spell.

One of the common cultivars found at most nurseries is “Yuletide” It has a re d flower with yellow stamens, single form, upright habit and dark green foliage. Another great sasanqua is “pink Butterfly”, bright pink, single, very large, October - November, and vigorous grower

Sources:

Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, Michael A. Dirr, page 173, Stipes Publishing, Campaign, Illinois, 5th revision - 1998.

All About Azaleas, Camellias, & Rhododendrons, Ortho Books, page 18 & 89

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