FRESH PICK WHAT TO PLANT THIS WEEK CAMELLIA.

Byline: Barbara De Witt Staff Writer

LONG BEFORE fashion designer Coco Chanel pinned a white silk camellia on her signature suits, camellias were revered. Not only for their beauty but for the flavoring they give to tea.

The camellia sinensis species - one of the least-attractive camellias but the most fragrant - is used for green and black teas, particularly Assam tea. It is grown mainly in plantations in the highlands of tropical Asia, as well as its native southern China.

Since the 18th century, camellias have been appreciated as a flowering shrub, but it wasn't until the end of World War II that they became widely popular in the U.S. The flowers are fragile-looking and petals will turn brown if handled, so they aren't usually considered for indoor floral arrangements, except to float in bowls of water. However, the evergreen shade-loving shrub with exotic waxy green foliage can grow several feet tall and provide a massive explosion of winter blooms in the Southland.

VARIETIES AVAILABLE: There are more than 3,000 kinds of camellias in six basic flower forms defined by the American Camellia Society. They include a single (layer), semi-double and formal double (ultra fluffy) as well as anemone, peony and rose forms.

The most common variety of camellia is japonica, but the sasanqua variety is particularly well-suited to Southern California as it is designed to be sun- and drought-tolerant once the plant is well-established. Good choices now available in local nurseries, says James Sparks, a horticulturist at Armstrong Garden Center in Sherman Oaks, are the Apple Blossom, a dainty white with bright yellow stamen and a larger red-and-white striped flower called Scentsation that has a rosy fragrance with a hint of clove.

Sparks says the flower that inspired Chanel is an old variety that's difficult to find, but a double japonica called Nuccio's Gem should please the fashion-conscious.

GETTING STARTED: Look for plants with clear, bright green leaves, clean limbs free of scale, and stems that have no cuts or scars. Plant in a northern exposure or area protected from intense morning sun. Do not plant where shade trees with shallow root systems will compete with camellias for nutrients and water.

Allow a minimum of 5 feet between plants, or slightly less for a hedge, and dig a hole at least 2 feet wider than the root ball. Leave soil in the center of the hole undisturbed to prevent settling. Then place the root ball on the column of soil, filling the hole around the root ball with a mixture of organic matter and topsoil. Build a berm of soil around the plant 3 feet in diameter to prevent water from running off. Then mulch slightly with straw or other organic matter around the plant and water well, but do not pile it so high that water is trapped and causes root rot. Water well.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE: They need well-drained, slightly acidic soil with regular watering so that soil is continually moist but not soggy. Also shelter from heat and drying winds. Pruning should be done right after the bushes flower or during summer or fall. Although they are hearty, Armstrong's horticulturist says the local problem is bud blight, which can be avoided by removing dead flowers on a weekly basis.

LANDSCAPING TIPS: Camellias provide a beautiful flowery show in a courtyard or a splash of color in a pot on a shaded patio. They also make a pretty hedge along garden paths or a tall screen in front of northern exposure windows or walls. Pruning in different sizes in a formal garden will give added dimension and allow more camellias to be planted in a given area, says American Camellia Society horticulturist Tom Johnson. Although camellias are usually planted independently, they mix well with low-planted azaleas and other woodland plants that require a similar plant food.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact your local nursery or Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada Flintridge, which has a variety of camellia events this month. Contact the American Camellia Society at [phone] or www.camellias-acs.com.

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

no caption (CAMELLIA)

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer