HOW FAR NORTH WILL AZALEAS AND 
CAMELLIAS GROW OUTDOORS? 
We would not attempt to assign positive northern limits to the 
areas in which Azaleas and Camellias will grow outdoors, but 
we can make certain general observations, which may be helpful 
to persons contemplating the growing of these plants in areas 
they think might be too cold. 
CAMELLIAS: We know of persons growing Camellias outdoors 
in Dallas, Memphis, Knoxville, Atlanta, and the Eastern Shore 
of the Chesapeake 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 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 Sasanquas. How- 
ever, 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 outdoor growing in the northern areass. 
AZALEAS: Azaleas and other Rhodcdendrons comprise so 
many different types and species that no general rule can be 
given. Some varieties, mainly deciduous, are hardy even as far 
north as Canada. But we can indicate something of the hardi- 
ness of the groups whch we are presently offering for sale. The 
Hardy Japanese Azaleas are the hardiest, and can be grown 
over a large part of the United States, being much at home in 
Massachusetts, where some are deciduous. The Kurume Azaleas 
are the next hardy, being grown outside as far north as Long 
Island on the coast, and inland perhaps to the Ohio River. The 
Pericat Azaleas are almost as hardy as the Kurume varieties as 
far as standing cold is concerned, and it has been found that 
they will grow farther south (southern Florida) and stand more 
hot weather than the Kurume ‘\Azaleas. The Indica Azaleas are 
less hardy than the above three groups, being able to take 
about the same amcunt of cold as the Camellia Japonica. 
PROTECTING PLANTS AND BLOOMS FROM COLD 
(see page 40) 
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 the roots, which is not practical except 
in the case of a very small plant. Therefore, 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. This 
loss of root area will retard the plant and in some cases even 
cause its death. Our container plants can of course be moved 
at any time even during the growing season. 
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 1st to October 1st. However, they 
may be set out at any time, even while growing, if they were 
previously dug and burlapped or potted during the dormant pe- 
riod. Our practice is to carry a large selection of plants through 
the summer in burlap and in containers of various kinds, so 
that we can offer them for sale at any time of the year. 
AZALEAS have particularly dense, compact root systems, and 
are very easy to move at any time of the year. However, dur- 
ing 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. Ordinary burlap tacked to 4 stakes 
will give them splendid protection from the hot sun. 
