Yuletide and Hiryu

Yuletide. C. x vernalis. Originated by Nuccio’s Nurseries, California in 1963. A seedling of ‘Hiryu’.

Yuletide. C. x vernalis. Originated by Nuccio’s Nurseries, California in 1963. A seedling of ‘Hiryu’.

Yuletide. C. x vernalis. Originated by Nuccio’s Nurseries, California in 1963. A seedling of ‘Hiryu’.

Yuletide. C. x vernalis. Originated by Nuccio’s Nurseries, California in 1963. A seedling of ‘Hiryu’.

Yuletide. C. x vernalis. Originated by Nuccio’s Nurseries, California in 1963. A seedling of ‘Hiryu’.

Hiryu. C. x vernalis. Introduced in Nakayama, Japan in 1847. Originated from Kansai, spread to many places. In Australia it is called ‘Kanjiro’ (the real ‘Kanjiro’ is different). A parent of ‘Yuletide’.

Hiryu. C. x vernalis. Introduced in Nakayama, Japan in 1847. Originated from Kansai, spread to many places. In Australia it is called ‘Kanjiro’ (the real ‘Kanjiro’ is different). A parent of ‘Yuletide’.

Hiryu. C. x vernalis. Introduced in Nakayama, Japan in 1847. Originated from Kansai, spread to many places. In Australia it is called ‘Kanjiro’ (the real ‘Kanjiro’ is different). A parent of ‘Yuletide’.

Bicolor

Navajo. Imported from Japan by Nuccio’s Nurseries, California in 1956. The original name is lost.

Old Glory

Double Rainbow. Originated by Nuccio’s Nurseries, California.

Double Rainbow. Originated by Nuccio’s Nurseries, California.

Egao group

Egao. C. x vernalis. Name means “smiling face” in Japanese. Originated in Kurume or Fukuoka. Imported to the United States by Nuccio’s Nurseries, California in either 1972 or 1977 (?).

Grady’s Egao. C. x vernalis. A sport of Egao.

Oleifera and Ackerman hybrids

C. oleifera. Abel 1818. Southern China, south of Yangtze River, Shanxi and Vietnam. Cultivated for oil production, used for cold-hardy hybrids, grows to 23 ft (7 m) hight, flowers in fall. Chromosome number: 2n = 30, 60, 90 (Kondo, 1977).

Seedling of C. oleifera. Abel 1818. Southern China, south of Yangtze River, Shanxi and Vietnam. Cultivated for oil production, used for cold-hardy hybrids, grows to 23 ft (7 m) hight, flowers in fall.

Winter’s Rose. C. oleifera ‘Plain Jane’ x C. x hiemalis ‘Otome’. William Ackerman. Survives very low winter temperatures – down to -15 F / -26 C.

Winter’s Rose. C. oleifera ‘Plain Jane’ x C. x hiemalis ‘Otome’. William Ackerman. Survives very low winter temperatures – down to -15 F / -26 C.

Winter’s Rose. C. oleifera ‘Plain Jane’ x C. x hiemalis ‘Otome’. William Ackerman. Survives very low winter temperatures – down to -15 F / -26 C.

Winter’s Rose. C. oleifera ‘Plain Jane’ x C. x hiemalis ‘Otome’. William Ackerman. Survives very low winter temperatures – down to -15 F / -26 C.

Winter’s Rose. C. oleifera ‘Plain Jane’ x C. x hiemalis ‘Otome’. William Ackerman. Survives very low winter temperatures – down to -15 F / -26 C.

Winter’s Rose. C. oleifera ‘Plain Jane’ x C. x hiemalis ‘Otome’. William Ackerman. Survives very low winter temperatures – down to -15 F / -26 C.

Other species and hybrids

C. kissii. Wallich 1820. Was callected by botanist named Kiss. Wide range in Southeast Asia – SE China (Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan), Myanmar, Bhutan, northern India, Kampuchea, Laos, Nepal, Sikkim, Thailand and Vietnam. Highly variable, flowers have creamy yellowish tint, flowers in winter.

C. kissii. Wallich 1820. Was callected by botanist named Kiss. Wide range in Southeast Asia – SE China (Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan), Myanmar, Bhutan, northern India, Kampuchea, Laos, Nepal, Sikkim, Thailand and Vietnam. Highly variable, flowers have creamy yellowish tint, flowers in winter.

C. kissii. Wallich 1820. Was callected by botanist named Kiss. Wide range in Southeast Asia – SE China (Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan), Myanmar, Bhutan, northern India, Kampuchea, Laos, Nepal, Sikkim, Thailand and Vietnam. Highly variable, flowers have creamy yellowish tint, flowers in winter.

Buttermint. A hybrid of C. kissii. Originated by Nuccio’s Nurseries, California in 1997. Keeps creamy yellowish tint, inherited from C. kissii parent.

C. grijsii. Hance 1879. Was collected in 1861 in Fujian by C.F.M. de Grijs. Distributed in China: Fujian, Hubei, Sichuan, Guangxi. Tidy upright bushes, impressed veins, related to C. yuhsienensis that has larger flowers, there is a double form called ‘Zhenzhu Cha’. Grows to 11 ft (3 m) high, flowers winter to spring. C. yuhsienensis. Hu 1965. Discovered on the mountain Yuh Shan (You Xian) in Hunan in 1960s. Distributed in China: Hunan, Jiangxi, Hubei, Guangdong. Best quality oil of any species, grows to 11 ft (3 m) high, flowers winter to spring, parent of ‘Yume’. Chromosome numbers: 2n = 30, 45, 75 and 90 (Gu, et al., 1988; Kondo, 1990; Xiao, et al., 1991).

Yume. C. x hiemalis ‘Shishigashira’ x C. yuhsienensis. The name means “Dream” in Japanese. The flower has a very unusual alternation of white and pink petals. Originated in Japan.

Yume. C. x hiemalis ‘Shishigashira’ x C. yuhsienensis. The name means “Dream” in Japanese. The flower has a very unusual alternation of white and pink petals. Originated in Japan.

C. puniceiflora. Chang 1981. Distributed in China: Zhejiang, Hunan. Small leaves, grows up to 2 m (6 f) high.

C. puniceiflora. Chang 1981. Distributed in China: Zhejiang, Hunan. Small leaves, grows up to 2 m (6 f) high.

C. puniceiflora. Chang 1981. Distributed in China: Zhejiang, Hunan. Small leaves, grows up to 2 m (6 f) high.

C. puniceiflora. Chang 1981. Distributed in China: Zhejiang, Hunan. Small leaves, grows up to 2 m (6 f) high.

C. puniceiflora. Chang 1981. Distributed in China: Zhejiang, Hunan. Small leaves, grows up to 2 m (6 f) high.

C. brevistyla form. rubida. C. brevistyla (Hay.) Cohen Stuart (1916) form. rubida P. L. Chiu (1987). Distributed in China in hilly areas of Longquan in Zhejiang Province. Chromosome number: 2n = 30 (Kondo, 1977).

C. brevistyla form. rubida. C. brevistyla (Hay.) Cohen Stuart (1916) form. rubida P. L. Chiu (1987). Distributed in China in hilly areas of Longquan in Zhejiang Province. Chromosome number: 2n = 30 (Kondo, 1977).

Gingetsu Perkins. A misnamed cultivar, sent to Nuccio’s Nurseries, California. Possibly a sasanqua-reticulata hybrid.

Gingetsu Perkins. A misnamed cultivar, sent to Nuccio’s Nurseries, California. Possibly a sasanqua-reticulata hybrid.

Gingetsu Perkins. A misnamed cultivar, sent to Nuccio’s Nurseries, California. Possibly a sasanqua-reticulata hybrid.

Kai Mei’s Choice. C. sasanqua x (C. sasanqua x C. reticulata). Originated in Camellia Forest Nursery, North Carolina.

Stars’N'Stripes. A chance seedling of ‘Christmas Rose’ (Williams’ Lavender x Shishigashira). Originated by Nuccio’s Nurseries, California.

Stars’N'Stripes. A chance seedling of ‘Christmas Rose’ (Williams’ Lavender x Shishigashira). Originated by Nuccio’s Nurseries, California.

Stars’N'Stripes. A chance seedling of ‘Christmas Rose’ (Williams’ Lavender x Shishigashira). Originated by Nuccio’s Nurseries, California.

Stars’N'Stripes. A chance seedling of ‘Christmas Rose’ (Williams’ Lavender x Shishigashira). Originated by Nuccio’s Nurseries, California.

Low growing and small foliage

Dwarf Shishi. A seedling of ‘Shishigashira’. Originated by Toichi Domoto, California in 1988.

Dwarf Shishi. A seedling of ‘Shishigashira’. Originated by Toichi Domoto, California in 1988.

Jewel Box

Jewel Box

Twinkle, Twinkle. Originated by Nuccio’s Nurseries, California.

Sasanqua Compacta. Very short leaf internodes. From Nuccio’s Nurseries, California.

Sasanqua Compacta. Very short leaf internodes. From Nuccio’s Nurseries, California.

Slim’N'Trim. Originated by Nuccio’s Nurseries, California.

Slim’N'Trim. Originated by Nuccio’s Nurseries, California.

Starry Pillar (N#9820). A chance seedling, might be a sasanqua-tenuiflora hybrid. Columnar habit. Originated by Nuccio’s Nurseries.

Starry Pillar (N#9820). A chance seedling, might be a sasanqua-tenuiflora hybrid. Columnar habit. Originated by Nuccio’s Nurseries.

Tanya. Introduced by Coolidge Rare Plants, east Pasadena, California in 1937. Produced from a seed imported from Japan in 1927.

Tanya. Introduced by Coolidge Rare Plants, east Pasadena, California in 1937. Produced from a seed imported from Japan in 1927.

Foliage

Silverado. Light gray green small leaves. Originated by Nuccio’s Nurseries, California.

Сазанка – Цветок Осеннего Солнца

“Сазанка” (Sazanka) – японское название цветущего деревца камелии Camellia sasanqua и двух родственных гибридных видов камелий – C. x hiemalis и C. x vernalis. По английски сазанка называется Sasanqua, “Сасанква”. По-японски слово “сазанка” записывается тремя иероглифами 山茶花, которые обозначают “гора”, “чай” и “цветок”, вместе “красивоцветущий горный чай”. А по китайски сазанка называется “ча-маи” и записывается двумя иероглифами 茶梅, обозначающими “красивый (красивоцветущий) чай”. На нашем вебсайте мы называем сазанку “Цветком Осеннего Солнца”, так как она цветет с сентября по январь и любит солнечное место в саду.

Мы создали этот вебсайт для любителей сазанок, цветоводов, селекцинеров и ученых, заинтересованных в обмене информации о ботанике и агротехнике этого замечательного растения.

Camellia sasanqua ‘White Doves’. По-английски этот культивар называется ‘White Doves’ (“Белые Голуби”), а по-японски ‘Mine-no-yuki’ (“Снег на гребне горы’)

Связь между сазанкой и чаем в японском и китайском языках неслучайна. Род камелий (Camellia) широко известен из-за чайного куста (камелии китайской – Camellia sinensis), из листьев которого мы приготовляем чай, и декоративного деревца камелии японской (Camellia japonica). Несмотря на принадлежность к одному роду, сазанка почти не скрещивается с ними и с точки зрения агротехники должна рассматриваться как отдельное растение.

Camellia sinensis, чайный куст, из листьев которого приготовляется чай, который мы пьем

Сестра сазанки, камелия японская (Camellia japonica, японцы называют ее “тсубаки”) – это зимне-цветущее растение с эффектными большими цветками, хорошо подходящими для выставок срезанных цветов и букетов. Камелия японская (“японика”) любит тень и в саду должна рости вместе с другими тенелюбивыми растениями, например папоротниками и азалиями.

Camellia japonica ‘Glen 40′ (‘Coquettii’)

В отличие от японики, цветки сазанки более нежные, иногда с тонким чайным запахом. Цветки сазанки не очень подходят для срезки, так как их лепестки опадают быстрее, чем лепестки японики. Зато многие сазанки производит гораздо больше цветков, чем японики, и осенью, во время цветения сазанок их кусты и деревца производят огромное впечатление в саду. В отличие от тенелюбивой японики, сазанка любит солнце и в саду может выращиваться рядом с розами. Розы и сазанки дополняют друг друга, так как розы цветут весной и летом, а сазанки цветут с ранней осени до середины зимы.

Близкой родственницей сазанки является масляная камелия, олифера (Camellia oleifera), которая используется для производства чайного масла, которое широко применяется вместо подсолнечного в южном Китае и как ингридиент для косметики. Олифера легко скрещивается как с сазанкой, как и с другими родственными видами – C. miyagii, C. kissii, C. brevistyla и другими. Американский селекционер Вильям Акерман, скрещивая сазанку и олиферу, создал так называемые “Акермановские гибриды” – камелии, способные выдерживать морозы до -20 градусов Цельсия и потому потенциально привлекательные для многих регионов России.

Сеянец дикорастущей Camellia oleifera

Акермановский гибрид Winter’s Rose, “Зимняя Роза”. C. oleifera ‘Plain Jane’ x C. x hiemalis ‘Otome’. Выдерживает очень низкие зимние температуры, согласно Вильяму Акерману, до -26 градусов по Цельсию.

Существует пять главных групп культиваров сазанки – “настоящая” C. sasanqua, C. x hiemalis, C. x vernalis, группа гибридов с общим названием ‘Egao’, и морозоустойчивые акермановские гибриды.

По-видимому, C. x hiemalis и C. x vernalis возникли от скрещивания каких-то древних естественных гибридов сазанки и японики обратно с сазанкой. К C. x hiemalis относятся популярные махровые и пеоновидные культивары ‘Shishigashira’, ‘Showa-no-sakae’ и ‘Kanjiro’. К C. x vernalis относится единственная сазанка настоящего красного цвета ‘Yuletide’ (все другие “красные” сазанки на самом деле темно-розовые). ‘Yuletide’ возник в Калифорнии как случайный сеянец популярного в Австралии культивара ‘Hiryu’ (австралийцы неправильно называют его ‘Kanjiro’).

Camellia x hiemalis ‘Shishigashira’. По японски “шишигашира” означает “львиная голова”.

Многие книги включают в сазанки культивар ‘Egao’ (яп. “Улыбка”) и родственные ему культивары (‘Shibori-Egao’, ‘Egao Corkscrew’, ‘Grady’s Egao’). Вместе с тем, генетические исследования показали, что ‘Egao’ является сложным кроссом гибридов японики и сазанки обратно с японикой. Внешний вид ‘Egao’, егу чувствительность к солнцу, размер и текстура, а также сезон цветения – находятся посередине между сазанкой и японикой.

Camellia x vernalis ‘Egao’. “Эгао” означает по японски “улыбающееся лицо”, причем с хитрой или слегка ехидной улыбкой.

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Камелия – капризна? Вовсе нет!

Юрий Панчул, Май 2005, Октябрь 2007

Читая информацию о камелиях в российской литературе и на российском интернете, я постоянно натыкаюсь на довольно странное мнение, что камелия – это очень капризное растение, которое могут выращивать только виртуозы. С другой стороны, когда я разговаривал с китайским цветоводом в клубе бонзаистов в Пало-Альто, Калифорния, я услышал прямо противоположное мнение: «Камелия? Ох, ну это такое растение, которое просто невозможно убить. Его не поливаешь, поливаешь чрезмерно, не удобряешь – оно себе растет и цветет.»
Continue reading ‘Камелия – капризна? Вовсе нет!’

Контейнерные смеси в Англии и США

Юрий Панчул, 2005-2007

Когда люди начали выращивать растения в горшках, то они быстро обнаружили, что обыкновенная садовая почва не является для этого наилучшим субстратом.

Садовая почва слишком тяжела для горшка и не обеспечивает правильный дренаж и аэрацию. Это приводит к переувлажнению и гибели растения от недостатка кислорода в почве и от гниения корней.

Поэтому в течение столетий растениеводы использовали смеси для горшков, включающие торф, песок, листовую почву, компосты и другие ингредиенты.
Continue reading ‘Контейнерные смеси в Англии и США’

Использование органических удобрений в США

Юрий Панчул, Март 2004, Июнь 2006

Органическое садоводство

В последние годы во многих странах мира стало популярным так называемое «Органическое садоводство» (Organic Gardening). Это методика выращивания растений с минимальным применением искусственных химических удобрений и пестицидов. Несмотря на то, что с точки зрения автора, органическое садоводство не является панацеей, многие из предлагаемых методов получили подтверждение со стороны агрономической науки и почвоведения и могут быть взяты на вооружение цветоводом.
Continue reading ‘Использование органических удобрений в США’

Sasanqua breeders

Well-known sasanqua breeders include:

1. Nuccio’s Nurseries’s founders Joseph and Julius Nuccio, and their children Tom, Jim, and Julius, all living in Southern California. The best-known Nuccio’s sasanqua cultivar is Yuletide – the only really red sasanqua. We wrote an article about their operation and maintain a list of sasanqua cultivars and Camellia species available from Nuccio’s.

2. Dr. William L. Ackerman studied genetics of camellias since 1960s and created cold-tolerant cultivars using Camellia oleifera as a parent. Our favorite Ackerman’s hybrid is ‘Winter’s Rose’ – a beautiful formal pink miniature sasanqua. Dr. Ackerman lives in Maryland, pictures of some of his cultivars are available on the website of a local Camellia Society of the Potomac Valley and on the website of the National Arboretum. We also prepared a photo album of some of his cultivars based on pictures Dr.Ackerman donated to us for publication.

3. Camellia Forest Nursery, Clifford Parks, David Parks and Kai Mei created sasanqua-reticulata hybrids, including ‘Kai Mei’s Choice’. Clifford Parks wrote many articles about Camellia genetics. They are located in North Carolina.

4. Paradise Plants, John Robb created beautiful sasanqua cultivars in Australia, including Paradise Sayaka
and dwarf Paradise Baby Jane. Unfortunately Paradise Camellias are not available in the United States at this moment, but will be available soon via Ball Seed Company, the contact name is Peter Kruger.

5. Tom Dodd Nurseries, Inc was started in 1920 with 40 acres of land by Tom Dodd, Sr. The nursery remained owned by the Dodd family until August of 2004 when it was purchased by Jack Williams and John Williams, owners of Twin Oaks Nursery in Wilmer, AL. Tom Dodd Nurseries introduced a dozen of new sasanqua cultivars.

Nuccio’s Nurseries

Disclaimer: This is not an official Nuccio’s Nurseries web site. Their web site is www.nucciosnurseries.com We are friends of Nuccio’s Nursery but do not represent their business. If you have any questions to Nuccio’s Nurseries, please contact Tom, Jim or Julius at (626) 794-3383

Nuccio’s Nurseries, Inc.
3555 Chaney Trail
Altadena, California 91001

Tel: (626) 794-3383
Fax: (626) 794-3395

Tom Nuccio, Jim Nuccio and Elizabeth Panchul. Nuccio's Nurseries, Altadena, California, December 13, 2003.

Overview

Nuccio’s Nurseries is a medium-size family-owned wholesale and retail nursery specializing in growing and hybridizing Camellias and Azaleas. Nuccio’s is well known as one of the richest Camellia nursery in the United States in terms of number of cultivars and species available for sale – more then 600. Nuccio’s family is one of the most recognized sources of Camellia and Azalea introductions worldwide.

History

Nuccio’s Nurseries started as a backyard operation in Alhambra, California by two brothers, Joseph and Julius Nuccio, who obtained a nursery license from the State of California back in 1935.

In 1946 the brother’s father, Giulio Nuccio, bought 40 acres of land in Altadena, north of Pasadena. This is the current location of 6 acres large Nuccio’s Nurseries that is now managed by Julius’ and Joseph’s children – cousin Julius and brothers Tom and Jim. Nuccio’s has total of 13 people – 3 owners and 10 workers.

Nuccio's Nurseries, Altadena, California, December 19, 2005.

Facilities

Nuccio’s has five greenhouses 11×57 feet, one greenhouse 12×60, one greenhouse 9×45 feet and one small glass greenhouse. Four of 11×57 greenhouses and one 9×45 greenhouse have misting systems and are used primarily for cuttings. During the winter they are used for grafting. One 11×57 greenhouse and 12×60 are used for grafting.

Most of plants are grown under large 50% shade cloth. An exception is Camellia sasanqua that can be grown in full sun. Nuccio’s uses manual irrigation for adult plants and misting system for cuttings.

Growing Camellias from cuttings

Cuttings are collected during the beginning of summer (end of June, beginning of July) and put into 50% peat moss 50% perlite in greenhouses under misting systems. Cuttings usually root in 3 months.

After 2-4 more months rooted cuttings are transplanted into 2-inch pots and stay there for 6-9 months. Plants in 2-inch pots should be watered every 3-4 days depending on weather. The potting mix used is 3/2/1 peat moss/topsoil/perlite.

Then young plants are transplanted into 4-inch pots and stay there for another 6 months to a year. Sometimes young plants are moved directly into #1 containers.

Then plants are transplanted into #1 containers and stay there for 2-3 years. At that moment they are available for sale.

Some of plants are transplanted into #5 containers and stay there for another 2-3 years. Tom Nuccio recommends for hobby growers to transplant from #1 to #2 containers before transplanting to #5. Some of the slow growing sasanquas, like Shishi-Gashira, are transplanted from #2 containers to #3 containers.

Plant fertilization schedule is every 6-8 weeks from April through September using Cottonseed Meal, chemical fertilizer Pete Light 20-10-20 or Fish Fertilizer. Convenient fertilization dates to remember are Easter, 4th of July and Labor Day.

Nuccio's Nurseries, Altadena, California, December 19, 2005.

Hybridizing and growing Camellia seedlings

Nuccio’s uses mostly open pollinations with some hand pollinations. Camellia fruits ripen in September-October. After fruit breaks, seeds are immediately collected and sown into large #3 containers filled with a soil mix that consists of 50/50 peat moss and sand. Seeds germinate after 6-8 weeks but they don’t come out of the soil until March. They develop very long taproots that must be cut during the first transplantation. Otherwise plants will not be able to grow normally in containers.

Seedlings are transplanted 1 year after sewing into 3 or 4-inch pots and treated just like young plants grown from cuttings.

During its history Nuccio’s introduced over 130 camellia cultivars and over 150 azalea cultivars.

Pest and disease management

Nuccio’s uses Integrated Pest Management. They spray only as needed and use a lot of beneficial insects to control pests. Nuccio’s uses Trichogramma Wasps against larva of moths and caterpillars, Ladybugs against Aphids and Lacewings against soft-bodied insects. Camellia spider mites are controlled using ultra fine oil spray; Hexagon is used to kill eggs of spider mites. Other insecticides and miticides used only on as-needed basis include Talstar, Floramite and Avid.

Sales

Nuccio’s has both wholesale and retail sales. The volume of wholesale is somewhat more than the volume of retail. Most of retail sales happen in the nursery rather then through mail order. Nuccio’s ship internationally. Nuccio’s has many cultivars not available in large-volume nurseries. Many Camellia societies order from Nuccio’s for their annual show sales events.

We maintain a list of sasanqua cultivars and Camellia species available from Nuccio’s.

Tom Nuccio. Nuccio's Nurseries, Altadena, California, December 13, 2003.

Nuccio’s Nurseries Catalog

Disclaimer: This is not an official Nuccio’s Nurseries web site. Their web site is www.nucciosnurseries.com We are friends of Nuccio’s Nursery but do not represent their business. If you have any questions to Nuccio’s Nurseries, please contact Tom, Jim or Julius at (626) 794-3383

Nuccio’s Nurseries, Inc.
3555 Chaney Trail
Altadena, California 91001

Tel: (626) 794-3383
Fax: (626) 794-3395

Tom Nuccio and Elizabeth Panchul. Nuccio's Nurseries, Altadena, California, December 13, 2003.

Varieties tending to peak later are designated by “L”;
Varieties showing earlier color are indicated by “E”.
Nuccio’s Nurseries introductions are indicated by “N”.

Name Description Bloom N
Apple Blossom White, blush pink at edge. Single.        
Asakura Large double. Pink buds opening white.
Vigorous, upright grows.
E      
Autumn Dawn Medium, loose peony. White toned deeper pink edge.
Medium, upright, slightly loose growth habit.
E     N
Betty Patricia Large rose form. Shell pink.        
Bert Jones Silvery pink semi-double. Flower quite large.     L  
Blush Rosette Sport of Rosette. Very light blush pink.     L N
Bonanza Deep red. Large, semi-peony form. Medium, low growth. E      
Brooksie Anderson Small double, light orchid pink. Slow, compact growth.     L  
Chansonette Unusual lavender pink. Irregular formal double. Low growing.        
Choji Guruma Anemone. Light pink, toning deeper toward edged of both petals and petaloids.        
Cleopatra Rose pink. Single.        
Dawn Semi-double. White tipped blush pink.     L  
Dazzler Brilliant rose red. Semi-double. E     N
December Rose Seedling of Egao. Large, semi-double, rose pink. Vigorous, upright, spreading growth.     L N
Double Rainbow Semi-double white bordered rose. Medium upright growth.       N
Egao Large, semi-double. Pink. Vigorous upright, somewhat spreading growth.More than likely a Sasanqua-Japonica hybrid.     L  
French Vanilla Large creamy white single. Fast, upright, somewhat open growth.       N
Frosted Star Small semi-double. Narrow petals. White toned light pink. Narrow leaves. Medium, bushy, upright, somewhat spreading growth.        
Grady’s Egao (Grady Perigan) Sport of Egao. Light pink, veined, fine white edge. Flower is smaller than parent’s and growth is more compact.     L  
Hana Jiman Large single white, edged with pink.        
Himekoki Clear pink. Small rose form. Pointed petals. Profuse. Medium, upright, slightly spreading growth habit.        
Hiryu Deep red. Double.        
Hugh Evans Profuse bloomer. Single pink.        
Hugh Evans Blush Very light blush pink, almost white, sport of Hugh Evans. Medium, upright, somewhat lacy growth habit.
Occasional yellow mottling on foliage. Profuse.
       
Interlude Light orchid pink. Formal double.     L  
Jean May Shell pink, double blossoms.        
Kanjiro (Australian Hiryu) Brilliant rose red, semi-double.        
Ko-Gyoko (Little Gem) Formal double, white with edges of petals pink.     L  
Little Pearl Medium, irregular semi-double, pink buds opening to white edged pink. Compact, upright growth.     L N
Miss Ed Blush pink. Formal to rose form. Narrow columnar growth.        
Misty Moon Pale, light lavender pink. Single to semi-double. Large, round flower with wavy petals. Upright, bushy growth.       N
Momozono Nishiki Single, white bordered rose red. E      
Narumigata Single white edged with pink.        
Navajo Semi-double, brilliant rose red fading to white in center.        
Nodami Ushiro Large, deep pink, semi-double.        
Painted Desert (N#9223) Large, single. Pale pink to near white,
bordered deep rose red. Showy stamens. Slow, upright, compact, stout growth.
       
Pale Moonlight Pale orchid pink toned lighter toward center.
Some petals rabbit eared. Growth very willowy and cascading.
       
Pink Snow Light pink, semi-double to loose peony.        
Pink Showers Large semi-double pink. Low, cascading growth.        
Rainbow Large, single white with red border.        
Rosette Small rose pink. Rose form to loose peony. Growth is upright and spreading.       N
Sakura Tsukiyo Large soft pink single. Growth is rather vigorous,
upright, but somewhat pendulous.
       
Setsugekka Large semi-double white with ruffled petals.        
Shibori Egao Variegated form of Egao. Pink mottled white. Very showy.     L  
Shinonome Very large, soft pink. Single to semi-double.        
Shishi Gashira Double, bright rose red. Low, compact growth.        
Showa-No-Sakae Semi-double to peony. Soft clear pink. Vigorous, low growth. E      
Showa Supreme Peony, soft clear pink. Low growth.       N
Silver Dollar Medium peony, white. Compact, mounding, medium growth.       N
Slim ‘N Trim Single, deep rose pink. Medium, very tight bushy,
columnar growth habit. Excellent for areas of limited width.
      N
Snowfall Large single white. Very vigorous, upright, somewhat open growth.
(We suspect this chance seedling to be a Sasanqua-Oleifera Hybrid.)
      N
Snowflake Large, single white        
Star Above Star White shading to lavender pink at edge. Medium semi-double.     L  
Stars ‘N Stripes
Single, white striped rose red, often with a rose red border.
Because striped Sasanquas are rare, this variety is a unique beauty.
Profuse and showy. Medium, upright, spreading growth. Being a chance
seedling of “Christmas Rose” (Williams’ Lavender x Shishi Gashira),
this is technically a hybrid, but we list it here because its overall
appearance is entirely “Sasanqua” – blooming season, flower type, leaf size
and sun tolerance.
      N
Taishuhai Large, single to semi-double. Deep rose border
to off-white center. Fast and upright but very graceful and lacy.
       
Takarazuka (Very possibly a Sasanqua-Japonica hybrid).
Medium to large semi-double, light pink toned deeper.
Very vigorous, upright and spreading growth.
    L  
Tanya Deep rose pink. Single. Fairly low growth.        
Twinkle, Twinkle (N#8929) This is a beautiful dwarf sasanqua
with very bushy, compact growth. Very small, semi-double, white,
sometime tinted pink, with small pointed petals.
      N
White Cleopatra White sport of Cleopatra.        
White Doves (Mine-No-Yuki) White, semi-double. Low growth.        
White Frills White, semi-double. Moderately low growth        
Yae Arare Large, single white with petals edged pink.        
Yuletide Brilliant orange red single with bright yellow
stamens. Sturdy, compact, upright growth.
    L N

A new small-leaved cultivar from Nuccio’s Nurseries – ‘Starry Pillar’


Starry Pillar

By foliage this cultivar is similar to ‘Jewel Box’ and ‘Twinkle, Twinkle’. The habit is columnar and resembles ‘Slim’N'Trim’ and C. grijsii. The flower resembles C. grigsii species. A description from 2006-2007 Nuccio’s catalog:

STARRY PILLAR (N#9820) – Small single white, occasional tint of pink on edge and on bud. Small dark green foliage. Medium growing, columnar habit. (There are several features of this chance seedling that lead us to believe it may well be a Sasanqua-Tenuiflora hybrid.)
Continue reading ‘A new small-leaved cultivar from Nuccio’s Nurseries – ‘Starry Pillar’’

The Fall Meeting at Filoli Garden in California

Organized by the American Camellia Society

Presentations:

John Wang. Bark Grafting.
John Wang. My Thoughts and Discipline on Camellia Breeding.
Gene Phillips. The Importance of Tea in our Gardens.

Demonstrations:

Clayton Mathis. Techniques of Rooting Cuttings and Air Layering Camellias.
Tom Nuccio. Techniques of Rooting Cuttings and Grafting.
John Wang. Bark Grafting Techniques from China and Taiwan.

Displays:

Neiman Marcus, Amorepacific beauty products made with Camellias
Megiston Health Foods, Madeline Lee, Organic tea oils made with Camellias

John Wang:

John Wang, Filoli Garden, California, September 8, 2007

Gene Phillips:

Gene Phillips, Filoli Garden, California, September 8, 2007

Tom Nuccio:

Tom Nuccio, Filoli Garden, California, September 8, 2007

Continue reading ‘The Fall Meeting at Filoli Garden in California’

A book from the Japanese Camellia Society ‘The Nomenclature of Japanese Camellias and Sasanquas’


'The Nomenclature of Japanese Camellias and Sasanquas'. The Japanese Camellia Society.

“The Nomenclature of Japanese Camellias and Sasanquas” ( 日本ツバキ・サザンカ名鑑 , Nippon Tsubaki ・ Sasanqua Meikan) is another “must have” book for any serious sasanqua lover. This book was published in 1999 by the Japanese Camellia Society ( 日本ツバキ協会編 , Nippon Tsubaki Kyoukai Hen) and Seibundo Shinkosha Co. Ltd. ( 誠文堂 新光社 ). This book is a work of more than 50 people who collected high-quality photo pictures and information on more than 2200 japonica and 200 sasanqua cultivars.

The book consists of two volumes – a volume in Japanese with pictures and a volume with English translation, created under the supervision of Thomas J. Savige. Note that in the book “The Japanese Camellia Society” is referred as “The Japan Camellia Society”.

The book has a short preface (4 pages), telling the history of the Japanese Camellia Society and the history of the book publication.

The Japanese Camellia Society was formed after the WWII, shortly after the formation of the International Camellia Society in 1953. It was the time of worldwide surge of interest in camellia growing and hybridizing.

The first nomenclature publication “Japanese Camellias, a Collection of 1000 varieties” ( 日本の椿、千品種 , Nippon no tsubaki, Senhin-shu) was published in 1980, but it included only Camellia japonica ( 椿, tsubaki ) and had no infomation about sasanqua ( 山茶花 , sazanka).

After the International Camellia Society published a monumental International Camellia Register in 1993 with 22,000 cultivars, it became obvious that the Japanese nomenclature publication has to be updated. However, according to the Japanese Camellia Society, during the economic boom time, no Japanese publisher wanted to publish a camellia book, because of its low profitability – there were plenty of more profitable books around. So Japanese camellia lovers had to wait until the economy goes down!

After the preface, the book presents information about 2400 cultivars. Each cultivar’s information has a photo picture and a 100-Kanji description. Some cultivars have no photo pictures – they are described in the appendix. The description is brief and very informative – it describes the cultivar’s area of origin, color, shape, habit, name of the originator and first mention in the literature. I wish similar American publications (like Southern California Camellia Society) use the same style.

Finally, after more than 300 pages of cultivars, the book has a chapter about the camellia history (3 pages), an afterword (1 page), a translator’s note (1 page) and an index. I personally like this style because it is down to the point.

The chapter about camellia history is written by the President of the Japanese Camellia Society Dr. Kaoru Hagiya ( 薫屋薫 ). It contains an interesting thought about why Japanese people prefer single flowers while Westerners prefer double formal flowers: ”The fundamental difference is in that the Westerners treat flowers as kinds of decorations, while Japanese take flowers as the symbols of nature”.

The afterword is written by Shuho Kirino ( 桐野秋豊 ), a member of the editorial committee.

There is a translator’s note from Shigeo Matsumoto ( 松本重雄 ) who is asking forgiveness for his translation errors. I did find some ambiguities – for example, about the origin of ‘Shôwa-no-sakae’. However I personally like his style of translation because it has a feeling of the Japanese character. If the translator would be non-Japanese, the text would be less authentic.

Shigeo Matsumoto was using help from Thomas J. Savige from Australia who suggested to use Hepburn system in the translation according to the International Nomenclature Code. This is very important. Different books use different forms of English transliteration of Japanese names. For example ‘Shôwa-no-sakae’ is written as ‘Showa No Sakae’, or ‘Shishigashira’ is written as ‘Shishi Gashira’ or ‘Shishi Gashira’. It is important to understand that pronouncing “o” instead of “ô” may change the meaning of the word. However we are still using non-accented “o” on our www.sazanka.org web site because of English search engines. But the bottom line – “The Nomenclature of Japanese Camellias and Sasanquas” became for me the main reference for the proper name, pronunciation and the history of Japanese sasanqua cultivars.

A classic 1958 book by J. Robert Sealy ‘A Revision of the Genus Camellia’


J. Robert Sealy 'A Revision of the Genus Camellia'

J. Robert Sealy 'A Revision of the Genus Camellia'

Happy blooming New Year!

Today the newspaper San Francisco Chronicle published my photo picture of the Camellia hybrid ‘Yuletide’. The photo appeared in as an illustration to an article written by Demetra Bowles Lathrop. The name of the article is “Happy blooming New Year! Camellias, hellebores, winter hazel can brighten desolate Bay Area gardens” and it appeared in the gardening section.

You can get the article from the newspaper’s website: http://tinyurl.com/6clpca

Сегодня, 10-го января, газета Сан-Франциско Кроникл напечатала мою фотографии камелии ‘Юлетайд’. Фотография иллюстрирует статью журналистки Деми Латроп про растения, цветущие в области Сан-Францисского залива во время Нового Года.

Yuletide. C. x vernalis. Originated by Nuccio’s Nurseries, California in 1963. A seedling of ‘Hiryu’.
Continue reading ‘Happy blooming New Year!’

This beauty shows its colors early

A couple of week ago I got a call from journalist Lili Singer, who needed some information about Camellia sasanqua for her article in Los Angeles Times. Today this article was published. You can see my sasanqua cultivar recommendations in the article.

Dwarf Shishi. A seedling of ‘Shishigashira’. Originated by Toichi Domoto, California in 1988.

You can get the article from LA Times archive: http://tinyurl.com/64cyo7

Continue reading ‘This beauty shows its colors early’