The "Privet" Camellia

The following is a short reflection on my love affair with Camellia 'Crimson Candles'. I've written previously about this cultivar, but I feel it necessary to glorify every year! When most of us picture the iconic Camellia of the south, we picture Camellia japonica. Japonicas have those characteristic rounded, somewhat large, glossy leaves and large, some might say "gaudy" flowers. 'Crimson Candles' is not this kind of camellia, and rather than being best appreciated in a vase or close-up, it is truly a landscape plant meant to be seen from a distance, like one would a cherry or forsythia.

'Crimson Candles' was created in the mid. 1990s by influential Camellia guru Dr. Clifford Parks of Camellia Forest Nursery. His hybrid originated by combining the large-flowered Camellia reticulata with the dainty white C. fraterna (pictured below).

The resulting cross has characteristics of both species. From its fraterna heritage, it presents numerous flowers clustered along the stems, picture a mock orange. While the vibrant pink color, and to some degree, the size of the individual flowers comes from reticulata. To the best of my knowledge, it is a sterile hybrid, which means it doesn't produce seed and thus can't be propagated except through vegetative means, like rooting. Luckily, 'Crimson Candles' is quick to root when compared to its slower-growing C. japonica cousins.

Perhaps the most outstanding quality of this particular cultivar, and the reason I've likened it to "privet hedge", is its amazing growth rate. And any of you who've grown camellias know that they aren't exactly known for their rapid growth! But many of the hybrids, particularly the crosses with the small leaf types, exhibit faster growth, and to some degree, more winter hardiness than either parent. 'Crimson Candles' displays incredible winter hardiness, and is reputedly hardy to 7a while C. fraterna is apparently only hardy to 8a (though I suspect slightly more hardiness). My mom's garden in Hillsboro, Ga is now classified as being in the middle of zone 8a, so other than potential freezer burn on flowers when temperatures. plummet below 25 F, this camellia is fully adapted to our climate.

In addition to its exceptional growth rate, 'Crimson Candles' has a very columnar, or upright growth habit and lacks the arching characteristic often observed in many of the small-flowered species. It is also adaptable in both shade and full sun. While our summer sun can scald many of the large-leaf japonica cultivars, this hybrid doesn't seem phased by direct exposure. I should also mention that despite growing in close proximity to a camellia infested with cottony scale insect, 'Crimson Candles' has so far avoided the pest!

I first became aware of 'Crimson Candles' from Mike Sikes, a plant addict based in Athens, Ga. His continual adulation of it infected me, and I just had to get one. Now I have around 5 or 6 specimens in my mom's landscape, and I too have become a disciple. If you are looking at purchasing this plant, good luck! I finally found some at Woodlanders in Aiken, SC, and I did see a few large (expensive) specimens at Pikes. I do hope more nurseries will propagate this amazing camellia!

UPDATE, with a quick search, I've found small sizes offered at Camellia Forest Nursery: https://camforest.com/products/c-crican