The Camellias and other Tropicals in My Greenhouse
Here in Bedford, New York, temperatures are on the rise - mid 40s to low 50s are expected for at least the next several days. Spring weather is definitely on its way.
Yesterday, the weather was warm enough to open my tropical greenhouse for just a bit to let in some fresh air. This large hoop house is where I store most of my tropical plants over the winter months. The structure is heated and the humidity levels are closely monitored and adjusted when necessary. On my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48 a couple weeks ago, I shared photos of some of the camellia blooms that had flowered inside. Camellias are highly prized for their exquisite blooms, splendid evergreen foliage, and compact habit. These shrubs blossom prodigiously for weeks, showing off beautiful shades of white, cream, pink, and red.
Here are more images of these stunning plants and a look at what else is thriving in this greenhouse, enjoy.
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- In all, I have five different greenhouses. This one is designated the tropical greenhouse. It works by heating and circulating air to create an artificial tropical environment. The entire structure is built using heavy gauge American made, triple-galvanized steel tubing. To simulate the best subtropical environment, we try to keep the temperature in this house between 50 and 85-degrees Fahrenheit with some humidity.
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- Fans are strategically placed around the greenhouse to help circulate the air. When temperatures hit 50-degrees Fahrenheit outside, we open the doors just a little for some fresh air.
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- The plants grow a little more each year, so the placement of these specimens changes every time they are stored. Beaucarnea recurvata, the elephant’s foot or ponytail palm, is a species of plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to the states of Tamaulipas, Veracruz and San Luis Potosí in eastern Mexico. Despite its common name, it is not closely related to the true palms. In fact, it is a member of the Agave family and is actually a succulent. It has a bulbous trunk, which is used to store water, and its long, hair-like leaves that grow from the top of the trunk like a ponytail, giving the plant its renowned name.
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- This is a monkey puzzle tree, Araucaria araucana. It is an evergreen tree native to central and southern Chile and western Argentina. It has strange leaves, a distinctive trunk and branches that emerge from the trunk in whorls. Mature trees may reach 150-feet in height and have a trunk diameter of up to seven-feet.
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- The leaves of the monkey puzzle tree are thick and stiff and have a pointed tip. The leaves overlap each other and completely cover the branches. They are sometimes said to look “reptilian” because they appear similar to a reptile’s scales.
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- This is a Bismark palm, Bismarckia nobilis, which grows from a solitary trunk, gray to tan in color, and slightly bulging at the base. The nearly rounded leaves are enormous and are divided to a third its length into 20 or more stiff, once-folded segments.
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- Also in this enclosure is this tall pygmy date palm tree, Phoenix roebelenii. This tree grows to about 10-feet tall or more. Phoenix roebelenii is a popular ornamental plant and needs little pruning to develop a strong structure. The greenhouse is quite spacious with a tall center to house these wonderful specimens.
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- And then on this side of the greenhouse are my camellias. I brought several plants back from Nuccio’s Nurseries, Inc. in Altadena, California. Camellias thrive in mild climates from California to Florida and are available in thousands of cultivars. The most common species of camellias are Camellia japonica and Camellia sasanqua.
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- Most shrubs reach a height between six and 12 feet, and just about as wide.
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- Different varieties of camellias come in various shapes: anemone, single, semi-double, formal double, rose-form double and peony form. Their flowers are usually large and can be about four-inches in diameter.
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- The camellias flowers are mainly white and shades of pink or red, and various combinations.
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- Their leaves are alternately arranged, simple, thick, and usually quite glossy.
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- Buds start to form in mid-summer and then open from fall through early spring.
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- Camellias like ample moisture and well-drained soil.
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- Feed with a good quality fertilizer specifically for camellias or a general 10-10-10 fertilizer in spring after the flowers have dropped. Avoid feeding camellias after July, as late feeding can cause bud drop. This camellia is called ‘Ragland Supreme.’
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- Camellia ‘Elizabeth Weaver’ has large formal double flowers in coral pink. This 10-year-old japonica first bloomed in 1967. It was originated by W. F. Homeyer of Macon, Georgia and then propagated by Nuccio’s Nurseries.
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- ‘Nuccio’s Pearl’ has full double blooms with pure white petals edged with an orchid pink blush. The flowers make a dazzling contrast against the glossy, dark green foliage.
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- ‘Ragland Supreme’ is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth and milk white blooms.
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- For some of the photos, I decided to place one flower in a crystal Baccarat bowl and then rest it in the snow. These flowers look stunning. This white beauty is ‘Nuccio’s Gem’ – a pure white, perfectly formed camellia flower with three to four inch blooms. It is one of the most popular varieties.
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- And here is ‘Nuccio’s Pearl’ in the bowl – the gorgeous pink tones are reflected in the glass.
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- This is ‘High Fragrance’ -with large, light pink, semi-double flowers and an alluring fragrance.
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- And look at ‘Elizabeth Weaver’ – I love how the bold pink looks in this bowl surrounded with snow. Camellias have a reputation for being somewhat difficult to grow, but if one is willing to meet their needs, they’ll reward you with a long bloom season just when you need it most. The countdown is on – just 22 days until spring.
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