Overview

How to grow camellias outside of their natural habitat

Gardeners seeking to adorn landscapes in more northerly climates with delicate camellia blossoms will learn how to in this comprehensive guide. Following a brief history of the genus Camellia and the breeding process which has enabled strains to survive in colder climates, this guide outlines the steps to success—from siting, planting, and fertilizing to pruning, propagating, and controlling pests and diseases. Besides offering a wealth of time-tested advice—from one who for more than 40 years has mounted extensive research in the cultivation of camellias suitable for areas outside of their natural habitat and has had a type of camellia named after him—this handbook provides a list of camellia varieties that will thrive in zones five and six, as well as appendices identifying camellia societies, nursery sources, collections, and suggested readings.

Author Biography

William L. Ackerman is a former president of the Camellia Society of the Potomac Valley and the author of Growing Camellias in Cold Climates. A research horticulturist at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, DC, until his retirement, he continues his research and experimentation with hybridization of cold-hardy spring- and fall-flowering camellias and the development of commercially acceptable yellow camellias. He lives in Ashton, Maryland.