
HOW FAR NORTH WILL CAMELLIAS 
GROW OUTDOORS? 
We would not attempt to assign positive northern limits to 
the areas in which Camellias will grow outdoors, but we can 
make certain general observations, which may be helpful to per- 
sons contemplating the growing of these plants in areas they 
think might be too cold. 
We know of some persons growing Camellias outdoors in 
Dallas, Memphis, Knoxville, and the Eastern Shcre of Chesa- 
peake Bay. It is quite possible that Camellias are or will be 
grown outdoors further north than these points, but in any 
case we do not like to give great assurance of success at or 
beyond these places. The Sasanqua varieties are thought to be 
somewhat hardier than the Japonica varieties, and persons in 
northern areas wishing to experiment with outdoor culture of 
Camellias might therefore have more success with the Sasan- 
quas. However, if Japonica varieties are desired for growing 
outdoors in the northern areas, we recommend, in the following 
order of preference: (1) Early blooming varieties, which open 
a large portion of their blooms before cold weather arrives; 
(2) Late blooming varieties which have stamens to cushion the 
bloom buds as they expand and contract during the Winter 
freezes and thaws; (3) Midseason varieties which have stamens. 
We do not recommend midseason or late blooming varieties 
which do not have stamens for outdocr growing in the northern 
areas. 
PROTECTING PLANTS AND BLOOMS FROM COLD 
Camellias and Azaleas may be grown in any cold climate 
if they are put in a greenhouse, sun porch, lighted cellar, room, 
cold frame or any other place which will give them adequate 
protection in cold weather. Camellias are widely grown in 
greenhouses in the northern portion of the United States. 
Where it is desired to move them outside during the growing 
season, they should be kept in containers. Out-of-doors, plants 
can be given a great deal of protection from cold damage by 
planting them in a place where the sun will not strike them 
in the morning after a night of low temperatures. A western 
or northern exposure is best in order to protect the plants 
from the morning sun. Additional protection can be afforded 
outdoor plants by erecting a framework over the plant and 
covering it with burlap or other material. Still additional 
protection may be given covered plants by placing a lighted 
electric bulb under the framework and cover. 
WHEN SHOULD AZALEAS AND CAMELLIAS 
BE SET OUT? 
Any plant may, strictly speaking, be ‘‘set out’’ or planted 
at any time of the year. The only time-restriction on moving 
plants is that there are certain plants which should not be 
DUG during their period of active growth. In digging a plant 
many of the roots necessarily are cut, unless the ball is made 
so large that it includes all parts of all of the roots, which is 
not practical except in the case of a very small plant. There- 
fore, digging a plant will usually cut some of the roots. Should 
some of the roots be cut during the growing season, when the 
plant is depending upon its entire root system to keep it going, 
the plant will be shocked and set back to a greater or lesser 
degree, depending on the type of plant and the percentage of 
the root area pruned off, and this loss of root area will retard 
the plant and in some cases even cause its death. 
Camellias are one of the plants for which it is advised NOT 
to DIG them during their period of growth, which runs in this 
section from about April lst to October ist. However, they 
may be SET OUT at any time, even while growing, if they were 
previously dug and burlapped or potted during the dormant 
period. Our practice is to carry a large selection of plants 
through the summer in containers of various kinds, so that we 
can offer them for sale at any time of the year. All orders 
which we receive during the growing period are filled from 
among these plants. 
Azaleas have particularly dense, compact root systems, and 
are very easy to move at any time of the year. However, during 
the hot summer months it is advisable to be a little more 
careful about watering newly set out plants and, if possible, 
to afford them some shade. 
GL 
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