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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Washington, D.C. » National Arboretum » Floral and Nursery Plants Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #319422
Title: Evaluation of Camellias for zone 6b

Author
item Fare, Donna

Submitted to: Southern Nursery Association Research Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/14/2015
Publication Date: 10/28/2015
Citation: Fare, D.C. 2015. Evaluation of Camellias for zone 6b. Southern Nursery Association Research Conference. 60:306-309.

Interpretive Summary: Recent hybridization of camellias has yielded several selections recognized as cold hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 6. Several of the cold hardy camellias, in an established camellia evaluation since 2004, were damaged with foliar bronzing and stem dieback after a severe freeze in November 2013 in McMinnville, Tenn. Though these selections are recognized as cold hardy in Zone 6, a quick temperature drop before plants were acclimated, effected plant hardiness and reduced or eliminated the flower display.

Technical Abstract: Recent hybridization of camellias has yielded several selections recognized as cold hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 6. Several of the cold hardy camellias, in an established camellia evaluation since 2004, were damaged with foliar bronzing and stem dieback after a severe freeze in November 2013 in McMinnville, Tenn. C. chekiangoleosa, C. crassissima and April Snow had the least leaf and stem damage, whereas, April Blush, April Remembered, Bernice Boddy, Pink Icicle, Spring’s Promise and Turandot had the most leaf and stem damage. Though these selections are recognized as cold hardy in Zone 6, a quick temperature drop before plants were acclimated, effected plant hardiness and reduced or eliminated the flower display.