Even up here in Perthshire, Camellias will grow, look healthy and flower...provided you chose the right one for the climate. My neighbour was advised by Glendoick gardens to buy Camellia williamsonii as that would grow in out climate. This is her young Camellia williamsonii Brigadoon in flower.... see pics. In the south Camellia are very common and do well.
I like you fire...keep telling me things I want to hear...trouble is I hear they don't like our winters.
Well, I'm not quite sure what you want. This is a gardening forum full of people who have grown daphnes and camellias for decades. You ask us, as a collective, if camelias will grow happily in the UK. We say yes - we grow them. I gave a link to Burncoose Nurseries, who are an excellent UK firm with an great website and sell daphnes and give details.
We are not offering universal truth; it's fine, of course, to disagree. You are new to the forum. We can offer links, but of course you can find websites all over the dodgy internet that will say different things.
If it doubt, the Gardeners' World plant guides are a very reliable source.
Apologies Fire....I'm learning (somewhat belatedly in life admittedly) on the hoof, and just trying to get things as right as I can. eg the daphnes...I always thought plants of the same genus enjoyed broadly the same conditions...now I'm learning that different species can prefer quite different ones. What might seem obvious to yourselves is still a steep learning curve for me...and of course you're right, misinformation on the internet is available...which is why I appreciate the input 👍 from you peeps so much.
I bought a Daphne “Perfume Princess” late last year. It’s struggled in my heavy clay, slightly alkaline soil. Hasn’t flowered yet. I did amend with lots of grit and ericaceous compost when planting, but of course the latter wouldn’t have done much to change the soil pH.
The leaves started yellowing in summer and I gave it Vitax sequestered iron plant tonic, which has I think resulted in the two-toned leaves which began going dark green again at the ends closest to the stems. (Btw the white spots are sap from a nearby star jasmine.) Nothing like @Silver surfer’s lovely specimens.
Roses and a couple of skimmias — female “Kew White” and male “Finchy” — have done well for me in the same soil, so I’m putting this down to the specific needs of this plant…
Well thanks mate. 😊 Supplier ( Parkers) have come back advising understand confusion ( not just me then) but found neutral to very slightly alkaline seems best for daphne. So many thanks to all for input, going for neutral soil improver. As for camellias, my next door neighbour has a 20 year old one...and it's a triffid! Confirms early winter sun affects those blooms above our common fence ( east facing for him), whereas buds below fence thrive, so north east corner of my south facing garden should be ok. As I say many thanks 😊 for all advice, all saved for future perusal.
@crystalpalacebadger5k6aYUF3L, a kindly meant word of caution. You might do better to buy better quality camellia/daphne from a specialist supplier but if you are stuck on Parkers, just make sure to check the pot size they are offering. A tiny shrub in a 9 cm pot is unlikely to survive. A 2 litre pot size would be preferable.
Another word of warning. They are never cheap to buy. For years Daphne can look glorious and healthy ..however they have a tendency to just die for no apparent reason.
Many thanks 😊 chaps...yes very happy with Parkers so far..what do you know I don't? But certainly have taken on board what you and other lady said about smaller pots being better to overwinter...already have a lovely olive and great looking mungo pine in my conservatory till spring., and made room for any 9" pots. Sunday mates and I shifting loads of heavy paving slabs to make room for these shrubs Gradually getting my garden into my simple vision. Like to repeat that I've genuinely saved all your replies ( even odd ones not complimentary to me..well just one) and take you all seriously. Oh and took on board gent with fragrant princess...going with just westland organic soil improver, neutral, particularly as parkers say best neutral/very slight alkaline.
Posts
My neighbour was advised by Glendoick gardens to buy Camellia williamsonii as that would grow in out climate.
This is her young Camellia williamsonii Brigadoon in flower.... see pics.
In the south Camellia are very common and do well.
Glendoick also advised that most of the white flowered Camellia do badly in Scotland.
What might seem obvious to yourselves is still a steep learning curve for me...and of course you're right, misinformation on the internet is available...which is why I appreciate the input 👍 from you peeps so much.
The leaves started yellowing in summer and I gave it Vitax sequestered iron plant tonic, which has I think resulted in the two-toned leaves which began going dark green again at the ends closest to the stems. (Btw the white spots are sap from a nearby star jasmine.) Nothing like @Silver surfer’s lovely specimens.
Roses and a couple of skimmias — female “Kew White” and male “Finchy” — have done well for me in the same soil, so I’m putting this down to the specific needs of this plant…
As for camellias, my next door neighbour has a 20 year old one...and it's a triffid!
Confirms early winter sun affects those blooms above our common fence ( east facing for him), whereas buds below fence thrive, so north east corner of my south facing garden should be ok.
As I say many thanks 😊 for all advice, all saved for future perusal.
Good luck with your gardening.
They are never cheap to buy.
For years Daphne can look glorious and healthy ..however they have a tendency to just die for no apparent reason.
But certainly have taken on board what you and other lady said about smaller pots being better to overwinter...already have a lovely olive and great looking mungo pine in my conservatory till spring., and made room for any 9" pots.
Sunday mates and I shifting loads of heavy paving slabs to make room for these shrubs
Gradually getting my garden into my simple vision.
Like to repeat that I've genuinely saved all your replies ( even odd ones not complimentary to me..well just one) and take you all seriously.
Oh and took on board gent with fragrant princess...going with just westland organic soil improver, neutral, particularly as parkers say best neutral/very slight alkaline.