Recently, my childhood cat passed away. She used to spend lots of her time lounging under the flower bushes at my parents. I believe they're camellias, but I was really hoping to get the correct variety as I want to buy some to plant at my own house. They bloom late november/december-ish and fare well in rapidly changing southern US weather.
I put a photo of my girl at the end. She loved it there!
by officialwaterbottle
7 Comments
I’m not sure how to edit my post– My parents seem to think that they’re some type of azalea, but none of us are very sure.
Looks like a Camellia, they take well from semi-ripe or hardwood cuttings, or can be easily layered.
Camelia sasanqua, but I’m not sure the exact cultivar.
It’s probably a Camelia Oliffera hybrid. Camelia Oliffera is the most cold hardy of available Camelia. They were the only Camelia species to survive the winter kill of what used to be Camelia valley at the National Arboretum in the 70s?.
Oliffera blooms in Oct-Dec, I believe Sassanqua blooms Sept-October. Oliffera has a more olive leaf color and a less glossy more waxy leaf surface.
In hybrids Oliffera contributes it’s cold tolerant vigor. Hybrids will show a range of variations depending parents and selection. Oliffera species has a single white bloom. The example is a double flowering type.
For more info I recommend Michael Dirr’s Manual of Woody Plants.
Finding the actual variety will be difficult.
I hope this helps.
Calico
Calico
am I the only one that thinks this looks more like a gardenia? were the flowers fragrant?