[img]238|left|||no_popup[/img] On a brisk, clear Sunday afternoon, take your senses for a stroll through the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens in La Cañada- Flintridge. Although I urge you to soak in the vast collection of art and antiquarian books, that is for another outing.
Henry Huntington began developing the Botanical Gardens in 1903. Now they span nearly 120 acres, with sweeping lawns and vistas interspersed with statuary, tempiettos and benches. Approximately 15,000 kinds of plants from all over the world make up the botanical collections, many landscaped into a series of theme gardens.
Throughout this vast idyllic setting are dozens upon dozens of varieties of camellia and azalea. The camellia collection at the Huntington alone showcases 40 species and 1,200 cultivated varieties, covering approximately 12 acres. Among the most historic plants is a lovely Camellia Japonica Pink Perfection, whose arrival pre-dated founder Henry Huntington’s purchase of the property.
Ubiquitous Plants
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Camellia and azalea are among the most prolific flowers in Southern California. Their presence is so widespread that frequently we take them for granted. But each is an astonishing plant with a unique history, ideally suited to our mild coastal climate.
Camellia have been known for centuries in the Orient. The Camellia sinensis (Chinese in Latin), the "common tea plant," was used as a beverage by the Chinese as early as 500 B.C. According to legend, the discovery of tea as a beverage was made by Ning, who lived from 2737 – 2705 B.C. Tea was a rare commodity in Japan during the Tang Dynasty (618 – 905 A.D.), and as such, the elaborate tea ceremony developed for the royalty and the elite.
[img]280|left|||no_popup[/img] Tea, and along with it the cultivation of the ornamental camellia, probably came to England in the late 16th or early 17th century, brought by traders who traveled to the Orient in search of silks and spices. It was considered so valuable that it was kept locked in silver tea caddies, or boxes, in the homes of the wealthy merchants and royalty.
Horticulturalists from Europe to America repeatedly failed in their attempts to cultivate the camellia to produce tea. They simply were unable to duplicate the growing conditions of Asia in which the plant flourished. From their failures, however, came the discovery of a plant whose many hearty flowers and varieties would soon grace the gardens of two continents.
Their Beauty and Their Age Both Are Unique
Most people immediately recognize historical sights in Egypt or Rome, and artifacts left from these ancient civilizations. However, as they meander through the ruins, few people see anything more than a pretty orange or red flower when they admire a plant like the Flame Azalea in bloom. Even fewer of these wanderers have an appreciation for the antiquity of these plants.
[img]281|left|||no_popup[/img] Native azalea can be found from Caucasus to China from Japan to the eastern seaboard of the United States, and even in the coastal forests of California. The mountains in the eastern United States are among the oldest ranges on the earth, and the variety of native azaleas that grow there are certainly not recent arrivals.
Our native azaleas are genetically similar to species from distant lands, separated by thousands of miles, arid deserts, and vast oceans. In California, native azaleas are artifacts that predate the appearance of man. For millions of years, azaleas have been quietly growing in our forests, slowly evolving in local habitats while the rest of the earth has changed about them.
Why This Month Is Ideal
Camellia and azalea are the jewels of the shade garden that brighten the winter months with blooms of incredible variation and beauty. January is an ideal time to plant and cultivate both these plants. Don’t be deterred by the cool weather. With modest watering and a properly prepared soil, the cooler conditions give these camellia and azalea the opportunity to adapt to the unique conditions of your garden.
[img]282|left|||no_popup[/img] They thrive in pots in the dappled shade under overhead trees or in the ground if the tree roots are deep and do not compete. If they are in a location where they get some hours of full sun, it is preferable that it be morning sun. Afternoon sun should be limited to the very late afternoon. Indirect light is sufficient for most, but, if the plants are very green and healthy but do not bloom well, it’s likely that the light intensity is lacking.
At our nursery, we feature the camellia and azalea throughout the year. Come by to see the varieties we carry or consult your gardener. If your garden doesn’t already include these extraordinary blooms, it’s time that you take a second look.
To learn more about any of the plants described in this article, visit our website at www.thejungle.biz or email me at carlos@thejungle.biz.
Carlos Saez is the owner of The Jungle Nursery, a leading designer garden center specializing in unique sculptural plants, tropicals, succulents, bamboo and a wide selection of indoor foliage including orchids. The Jungle, 1900 Sawtelle Blvd., West Los Angeles. 310. 235.2875.
Mr. Saez’ gardening column appears on Wednesdays.
