"Propagating the Past…Cultivating the Future”
PLANT DESCRIPTIONS
BULBS, PERENNIALS, GROUNDCOVERS
Agapanthus africanus “Lily Of The Nile” ~ Long grown along the Gulf Coast, handling our winters quite well. We offer ‘Elaine’, a patented, newer cultivar with rich violet-blue flowers on strong scapes. Can be recommended for zone 7b.
Aspidistra elatior “Cast Iron Plant” ~ Needs no description. Listed here because we have lots of it from time to time. 'Ginga’ (often called ‘Milky Way’)is an excellent cultivar with consistent creamy-white spots on glossy leaves. Lower growing, it can be used with great effect in heavy shade. ‘Akebono’, an ancient cultivar carries one consistent yellow stripe down the center of each leaf.
Habranthus brachyandrus “Giant Pink Rain Lily” South American native for zones 7b-10. Large, broad, rose-pink flowers, on 16” stems again and again during summer. Easy in the ground or containers. Multiplies rapidly.
Iris- Neomarica caerulea Giant Iris with leaves over 5’ long. Purple-blue flowers appear on branched stems above the foliage. Flowers are short lived but numerous blooms appear over the course of months. Easily grown in moist soil, full sun to partial shade. Probably root-hardy to 15 degrees.
Iris (Louisiana Hybrid) ‘Bayou Short Stuff’ Tidier grower with nice foliage. The violet-blue flowers appear just above the leaves on sturdy stems. Great for massing.
Iris (Louisiana Hybrid) ‘Laura Louise’ This is the best yellow Louisiana Iris we have encountered. Vigorous grower with strong, healthy leaves. Heavy scapes hold golden-yellow flowers. A rich yellow color.
Lilium speciosum var. rubrum “Heat tolerant Rubrum Lily”. We did not have the right to re-dscover this treasured bulb decades after I had lost it at the nursery and yet…a surprise phone call from a nice lady that began with “I have this beautiful lily growing all over my side yard-we got from your dad in 1962…” Three foot stalks produce extraordinary flowers dependably each summer and the bulbs multiply even with sixty inches of rainfall a year. I won’ begin to attempt describing the flower. A "Google Image" search for Rubrum Lily yields best description.
Liriope muscari ‘Lynn Lowrey’ We bestowed cultivar status to this giant liriope after watching it achieve 3’ in height in some of our plantings. Shared with us by Tom Dodd Jr. who received his from the late, great Texas plantsman. We grow this in 3-gallon pots for use in groupings or even specimens.
Camellias
We offer the Wintergarden collection of camellias. There is a camellia suitable for every garden. Antique and heirloom cultivars, and the best of the newest hybrids including a groundcover, and several cultivars with fragrant flowers.
Sizes from 3-gallon to 8 feet plus.
Re-inventing the Camellia sasanqua
There are still many wonderful old Camellia sasanquas, but there are others hanging around that have lost their disease resistance: Cleopatra, Maiden’s Blush, Setsugekka among them. In 1988 we began a breeding program to inject some hybrid vigor into the species. The results below are becoming quite popular…look for more to come.
Camellia sasanqua (hiemalis) ‘Aglaia’ ~ Strong, spreading habit as wide as tall. Perhaps best used in masses. Coppery new growth in Spring and Summer is interesting. The rather large flowers are fully double (rose-form) and a rich pink darkening to a nearly crimson center. Blooms over an extended perod.
Camellia sasanqua ‘Autumn Sentinel’ ~ As the name implies, a columnar grower to 10’. Small soft pink flowers bloom in clusters along the slender stems.
Camellia sasanqua (hiemalis) ‘Green’s Blues’ ~ Growth habit, and bloom time are same as its parent, ‘Shi-shi-gashira’. However, the “buds emerge grape-juice purple, open to a rich purple-blue, and by the second day lose all their red tones, revealing a truly blue camellia.” Bill Finch, Mobile Register. 2008 Winner of the International Ralph Peer Award as best new Camellia sasanqua.
Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana Nana’ ~ A compact growing seedling of ‘Hana Jiman’ with the same profusion of fragrant brilliant flowers. White, edged broadly in magenta-red. New Spring growth is purple. We expect ‘Hana Nana’ may be kept 4-6’.
Camellia sasanqua (hiemalis) ‘Rose Of Autumn’ ~ This seedling of ‘Kanjiro’ surpasses its parent in vigor and flower interest. It is the fastest growing “sasanqua” we have ever grown, quickly forming a tall screen planting. Makes an excellent espalier on expansive walls. The large ruffled flowers are a glowing, almost iridescent rose, deepening in colder weather. Profuse, long season.
Camellia sasanqua ‘Sarrel' ~ A true groundcover camellia! Growth is almost identical to Gardenia radicans. Our original 22 year-old plant is 4’ tall and 10’ wide. Flowers are ruffled double pink softly marbled white. Prefers light shade.
Camellia sasanqua ‘White Sentinel’ ~ Similar habit to Autumn Sentinel but carries single white flowers in early autumn.
Some other “sasanqua” highlights:
Camellia sasanqua ‘Gulf Glory’ A rediscovered heirloom grown by K Sawada at Overlook Nurseries. Large, wavy, semidouble flowers are pure white. Excellent grower, upright and bushy.
Camellia sasanqua (hiemalis) ‘Reverend Ida’ ~ Best described as identical in all ways to ‘Shi-shi-gashira’ but with, get this, ruby-red flowers. From Tom Dodd, Jr.
Camellia fraterna hybrid ‘Tiny Princess’ ~ Graceful, tall and spreading form, eventually reaching 10’ or more. ‘Tiny Princess’ was developed by K. Sawada in 1962 and promptly forgotten, except in Australia and New Zealand, where its considered a national garden treasure and parent to some amazing newer hybrids. Small bell-shaped flowers are soft pink and appear in unbelievable numbers during winter. Quite fragrant, they fall to the ground all “face-up”, a magical sight.
Camellia japonicas
In addition to many old favorites, we would like to introduce you to some “out of the ordinary” Winter-blooming camellias your customers will love.
Camellia japonica ‘Black Magic’ ~ Very shiny, heavily-serrated holly-like leaves on a tall upright shrub. To add to the magic, the large, strange-looking flowers are black-red, seemingly dipped in high-gloss polyurethane. Weird and cool.
Camellia japonica ‘Dahlonega’ ~ I love this plant! Very slow, but sturdy, upright, compact growth, lends itself to the smaller garden where many camellias can’t be used. Unique parchment yellow, fully-double flowers resemble old botanical prints. Blooms late season, making it a happy camper in zone 7b. The best “yellow” flowered camellia to date.
Camellia japonica ‘Daijokhan’ ~ This is an ancient “Palace Camellia” from an inner courtyard in China. Until recently it was forbidden to remove a cutting from the plant. One of the very best white camellias, most of which have a stodgy growth habit. Daijokhan is upright but less formal in shape. Beautiful white flowers are informal double-a sight to behold. Its no wonder the lords of the castle kept it to themselves.
Camellia japonica hybrid ‘Delores Edwards’ ~ A new classic. The sum of the parts is outstanding. Strong, bushy growth holds good quantities of large loose peony-like flowers. Blend of pink tones.
Camellia japonica ‘Edna Campbell Variegated’ ~ Slow, compact, but healthy grower. New growth is red. Flowers are semidouble and intensely red marbled to various degrees in white. Of all our red camellias this one really stands out. A bonus in summer is the appearance of many ornamental, glossy red, apple-like fruit .
Camellia japonica hybrid ‘High Fragrance’ ~ How about a camellia that smells like an antique rose? Large, double pink flowers send out a wonderful strong scent. Very upright, loose grower, can be trained to a small tree over time.
Camellia japonica ‘Laura Walker’ ~ An excellent large-flowered red camellia with strawberry-red petaloids. Cold hardy and vigourous with pretty, dense foliage.
Camellia japonica ‘Sawada’s Mahogany’ ~ Discovered in the personal garden of the late K. Sawada. Compact, rounded growth habit with new leaves strongly flushed coppery-purple. Flowers begin in autumn and bloom throughout the season. Large, peony-shaped blooms are overall maroon-red, but with curious mahogany red tones. Unique.
Camellia japonica “Siegmund Garden” ~ Doubtless an older cultivar we found in a local garden, no one has been able to identify it. Nevertheless it must be grown. Dense habit and dark green leaves. Formal double flowers are a rich rose.
Camellia japonica ‘Tama No Ura’ ~ Discovered by a charcoal burner in a remote province of China. He recognized the unique beauty and spared it from the fire. (Forests of camellia are denuded for high-quality charcoal) Loose, spreading habit when young, develops into the most graceful, upright form with pendulous limbs. Flowers unlike any other camellia are small, single, brilliant red, with a wide white margin. Loved by all who see it, even those who pretend to disdain camellias.
Camellia japonica ‘Tricolor’(Superba) ~ Old, old cultivar with everything going for it. Dark green, beautiful foliage on a well-rounded bush. Extremely cold-hardy, yet performs well in mild climates. Covers up with large semidouble flowers of white to blush, heavily striped red. Often entire flowers are red. No more festive a camellia than this. Especially good clone from K Sawada.
SMALL SHRUBS TO SMALL TREES
Abies firma “Momi Fir” An amazingly heat-tolerant fir from China. Has been in southern gardens at least since the 1920s. Patience with its slow growth will reward the gardener with a long-lived heirloom fir. 15’-25’ Christmas tree shape.
Acer oliveranum spp. formosanum From the mountains of Taiwan. Appearance is much like the Japanese maples but with green bark even on older specimens. Leaves hold up well in summer. Scarlet red in late Fall. A very good grower.
Acer rubescens ‘Silver Cardinal’ Surprisingly heat-tolerant small maple in the “snakebark” group. Green trunks with coral red new growth and winter buds. Leaves emerge in a mixture of green, white, pink. Very showy. Probably a 15-18’ tree.
Calycanthus floridus ‘Michael Lindsey’ (SEEDLINGS) Native sweetshrub with strawberry-fragrance, maroon flowers. Seedling-grown and can be variable.
Camellia sinensis “Tea Plant” We offer a superior clone, a lone survivor from a Lipton Tea experimental plot near our nursery. Very vigorous and a bit more upright than most. C. sinensis. Tea plants are an easy fit in the landscape - working within a formal herb garden, within a naturalistic setting, or as a clipped hedge. Beautiful little white flowers with golden centers in fall-winter.
Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Contorta’ “Contorted Flowering Quince” With its twisted, turned, contorted growth this makes quite a conversation piece. Easy in containers. Pleasant surprise of pretty pink flowers in early Spring.
Corylopsis pauciflora x spicata ‘Winterthur’ Presumably a hybrid of two distinct species, ‘Winterthur’ comes from the famed garden in Delaware. Possesses the best qualities of both parents. Flowers, foliage and growth habit more like pauciflora but on a larger framework. Fast becoming a favorite. Very heat-tolerant.
Cunninghamia lanceolata ‘Glauca’ “Blue Chinese Fir” Powdery-blue foliage is the main appeal of this very heat-tolerant, large-growing conifer. Strong growth to 50’ or more. Tolerates a light shade, which seems to intensify the blue color.
Dichroa febrifuga “Evergreen Hydrangea” Delightful small hydrangea relative with tiny white and blue flowers in late Spring followed by showier shiny metallic blue fruit the following Winter. Very shade tolerant with ample moisture.
Distylium miricoides Easily-grown, spreading, compact, evergreen shrub with nice glossy leaves. Small maroon flowers in Winter are interesting. Related to the witch hazels.
Fothergilla gardeni (Baldwin County, AL) Discovered in north Baldwin County by noted naturalist, Fred Nation. Noteworthy as the only population described in the state. Has proven to be a strong grower (for the species) with typical white bottlebrush flowers in Spring and consistent orange to red Fall color. Grows to 24-36”.
Gardenia jasminoides ‘Rosedown’ “Hip Gardenia” Very old shrub grown at Rosedown Plantation in St.Francisville, LA prior to “War Of Northern Aggression”. Flowers are okay, white single, fragrant. Fruit is a spectacular show of orange and yellow “hips” in fall. Our favorite gardenia, and easily grown.
Gordonia axillaris Chinese counterpart to our native Gordonia. Great plant for zone 8. Ours have sailed through 10 degrees and have reached 10 feet. Similar in habit and bloom to an upright Camellia sasanqua, to which it is related. Large showy white flowers, with brilliant yellow stamen cluster, are abundant in fall, falling “sunny-side-up” hence the Australian nickname “Fried Egg Tree”
Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Madame Emile Mouilliere’ Very old French cultivar (1909). Quite vigorous with large but graceful inflorescence. Perhaps the best white hortensia. Flowers age to a lime green and are excellent for cutting.
Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Penny Mac’ One of the bestre-blooming hydrangeas. Compact growth, blue flowers.
Much like ‘Nikko Blue’ in our climate but more restrained growth.
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’ Though quite well-known, this Hydrangea is not seen quite enough in the Deep South. It should be widely used. Much more compact than ‘Tardiva’ and the young flowers truly are a light lime color aging to white. Can be grown in full sun to light shade.
Hydrangea quercifolia (Monroe County Strain) A strain of heat-tolerant seedlings, taken from select parents. Originating only 90 miles from the Gulf Coast. Vigorous and disease resistant with larger leaves. Typically seeing large flowers.
Hydrangea serrata ‘Blue Bird’ An old Japanese cultivar with strong growth habit. Flowers continuously in summer. A lacecap of blue flowers surrounded by blue florets when grown in acid soil. The sepals literally flip over and are pink on reverse. Coupled with healthy leaves tipped in red for a wonderful overall interest.
Hydrangea serrata ‘Fuji Waterfall’ Cascading delicate white flowers on a compact grower. Glossier foliage. Quite different, quite wonderful.
Ilex opaca ‘Dan Fenton’ Don’t let the masculine name fool you, this American holly is covered in red berries in winter. Upright when young, it develops a pyramidal, bushy habit with perhaps the richest green foliage seen in the species.
Koelreuteria Elegans “Taiwan Golden Raintree” Perhaps the most ornamental of all the Raintrees, but hardy only in zone 8. Yellow flowers in Summer, followed by showy coral-pink bracts in Fall.
Magnolia hybrid ‘Butterflies’ A truly yellow-flowered American-Asian magnolia. A cross between the native species M. acuminata and K. Sawada’s M. denudata hybrid ‘Sawada’s Cream’ A healthy upright grower. Shy to bloom when young, but blooms very well once established. Widely considered the best of the yellow hybrids.
Magnolia pyramidata This rare native Magnolia is an upright grower to 20’. Beautiful creamy-white flowers in Summer are followed by showy magenta red fruit in Fall.
Magnolia (Michelia) laevifolia ‘Snow Angel’ Fabulous shrub very unlike other “Michelias”. Small leaves on a spreading grower that might reach 8’ or so. Metallic bronze buds open to small white flowers with more of a magnolia-lemon scent than banana fragrance. This smaller form will work well in containers or the smaller garden.
Magnolia (Michelia) x foggii A surprisingly hardy “Michelia”. Large leaves for the genus and rapid upright growth. Larger flowers (though not strongly fragrant) than most Michelia are of individual interest.
Magnolia (Michelia) skinneriana Best described as “new and improved” Magnolia figo. Similar in most respects but more vigorous, more evergreen, more cold-hardy, with a much longer bloom season.
Mahonia gracilipes Fascinating “new” species with a more delicate appearance than the media hybrids. Leaf backs have a beautiful silver-blue bloom and the flowers are purple and yellow bursting open in a fireworks pattern. 3-4’ growth. Add lime to soil.
Mahonia x media (Seedlings) These are seedlings from some great plants. Very showy, erect, and tall, yellow flower inflorescence in mid-winter, followed by a large crop of blueberry-like fruit. Tall grower for light to rather heavy shade. Seedlings from ‘Arthur Menzies’, ‘Charity’, and ‘Cantab’ .
Osmanthus fragrans “Sweet Olive” Long associated with the old south, “the perfume of winter”. Best grown as a tree. Beautiful ancient specimens still seen at old plantations in the Deep South. The tiny creamy flowers appear almost constantly from October through March between freezes. Well used in concert with camellias to achieve the last degree of perfection - fragrance.
Osmanthus fragrans ‘Fudzinghi’ A more compact form of O. fragrans, with (can you believe?) even more flowers! Will fit well into smaller gardens where the species is often forced in with a shoe horn.
Pieris ryokuensis ‘Temple Bells’ A more heat-tolerant form of Japanese Pieris from the Ryoku Islands and Taiwan. Has performed very well on the Gulf Coast. Flowers are very showy white bells in late Winter, followed by striking coppery red new growth. Slow grower for light to medium shade. Reaches 3-4’. This is the true strain.
Prunus campanulata “Taiwan Cherry” Brought from Japan to the Arnold Arboretum by E. H. Wilson in 1915. It has proven to be the most successful flowering cherry for the deep south. Mobile’s Kiyono and Overlook Nursery both offered it. It is the most tolerant of our Gulf Coast conditions, much more graceful an appearance than ‘Okame’. Breathtaking in its late winter bloom, we have found the magenta buds and flowers unspoiled by 26 degree freezes.
Prunus subhirtella ‘Autumnalis Rosea’ x campanulata Three visits to Athens, Georgia in October, December, and January all found this tree in bloom. It has performed equally well in Mobile, Alabama. Fast growing upright, open form to 15-20’ with double magenta-pink flowers. Tends to bloom off and on, during winter. Practically unknown but worthy of more use.
Punica granatum “Pomegranate” This is the old heirloom, truly edible, pomegranate grown in favorable areas of the South long before ‘Wonderful’, which is anything but.
Rhododendron canescens ‘Varnadoe’s Phlox Pink’ Years ago, we were fortunate to obtain our first plants of this native azalea from Mr. Varnadoe’s fascinating nursery. It remains a favorite with its early, pre-leaves bloom (the flowers appear to be suspended in air). Very vigorous with the best dark pink color we have seen in the species.
Rhododendron minus var. minus “Red Hills Strain” Heat-tolerant native Rhododendron from one of the most southerly populations of the species. Seedling-grown from specimens with darker lavender flowers.
Schizophragma integrifolium var. faurei “Taiwan Climbing Hydrangea”Received this from Heronswood Nursery and it has thrived in our warm climate. Definitely more heat-tolerant than S. hydrangeoides. This is a large climbing vine with enormous heads of creamy white flowers surrounded by large bracts. Suitable trellis would be a pine tree.
Styrax japonica ‘Emerald Pagoda’ The most vigorous, largest-flowered Styrax. In August the leaves are spotless, even in full sun. Upright, vase-shaped grower with yellow fall color and winter trunk interest. A real gem! Should be planted everywhere.
Trachelospermum jasminoides ‘Pink Showers’Similar to the wonderful old heirloom “Confederate Jasmine” but with pink flowers and a bit more easily kept to a respectable habit.
Viburnum corymbiflorum ~ Introduced by Camellia Forest Nursery this unique Viburnum produces candy corn like fruit which change from yellow to orange to near red appropriately around Halloween. Upright, open habit observed on a deciduous shrub.
Viburnum luzonicum “Luzon Viburnum” A Google search for this shrub will mostly turn up ”Iridoid glucosides and p-coumaroyl iridods from V. luzonicum and their cytotoxicity.” Planted in the garden, expect flat-topped white flowers, translucent red fruit in Fall followed by orange to purple foliage. Very easily grown as a 6-8’ shrub. Great plant-people love this plant.
Viburnum tinus This evergreen viburnum has long been grown in the South. It’s a good plant but some new cultivars are a decided improvement. ‘Gwenllian’ has been the best we have seen with nice pink buds and great quantities of metallic-blue fruit that hold well throughout the winter.
“Not in the darkest and most dreary of winter days is the garden devoid of beauty” (E.H.Wilson)
For those who prefer their camellias within the context of history we provide:
