cold camellias

~a cold camellia~

 
At 8:13 am it's 23.2 F degrees outside of the Airstream.  For many of you residing up north, that's downright balmy - but for southern-loving camellias, it's frigid.

I don't think in the 16 years that I've lived in Charleston has there been a worst winter for the camellias.    Many of the sasanquas got nipped during the December cold snap, and January has not been kind to the japonicas.  The plants will survive just fine - during the night and early mornings, they'll curl up their leaves (looking as if they're trying to stay warm).  In a few hours, their leaves will uncurl and they'll look much happier.  But any partially open buds or fully open flowers freeze at these temperatures, turning their normal shades of white, pink, and red all a shade of muddy brown.  My hope is that soon our temperatures will moderate, and that the mid to late season camellias with their buds still tight and protected from the cold will still be able to put on a show.

Until then - a list of camellias from previous years.

Comments

[Janet]

I bought a Camellia japonica 'Dr. J C Raulston' and boy does he look sad today. Sure hope the weater eases up a bit, would love to see this one bloom.

[Les]

It has been the worst winter for camellia gardeners as well. When will it end?

My sasanquas were lso nipped hard in December, but fortunately there were a lot of tight buds which have reluctantly given up their colors in January. The japonicas are thankfully very tight and will likely put on a good show when things warm.

[Annie in Austin]

Sorry the cold is hitting you, Pam!
My sasanqua was done in mid-December, lots of flowers that missed the deep cold. But we were down around 15 degrees F last week and the buds on the white japonica were at the partially open stage. They are no longer white but sort of tea-colored.

Annie at the Transplantable Rose