Pure Beauty - Pure Colour - Cloud Soft - Heaven to Grow

• Ideal for dense low to medium sized hedges, great as topiary specimens, surperb as
  standards, and perfect in pots.
• Suitable for most gardening areas of New Zealand and will grow happily in sun or shade.
• Create the stunning beauty of paradise in your garden today.

Origins

With their origins in Japan, sasanqua Camellia are steeped in the traditions of formal gardens. Today’s hybrids however, have forms to fit any garden. They’ll be seen as loose open screens, formal hedges, espaliers, columnar forms framing gates and entrances, as groundcovers, and container plants adorning terraces and patios. Few plants are so versatile.

Delightful when in bloom during autumn and winter, sasanqua Camellia look splendid all year round. They typically have deep green glossy foliage and cover a wide range of growth habits, size, and flower forms and colours.

Bob Cherry of Paradise Plants on the Central Coast, an hour's drive north of Sydney, does not just grow plants; he collects, breeds and lives plants. Since the early 1970’s he has spent all his spare time collecting and hybridising plants. One of Bob's specialities is sasanqua Camellia.

At Paradise Plants, this selection work continues, and staff pollinate several thousand flowers annually to produce even bigger flowers and bushier tidier plants. Breeding efforts are now specifically targeting longer flowering periods, perfume, improved growth habits and different colours.

At Paradise Plants Bob Cherry has been breeding superior sasanqua Camellia's since the late 1970's. In this time he's grown over 20,000 seedlings and to date has selected just a few for as being good enough to wear the Paradise label.

The first of these arrived in New Zeland in 1999 with the promise of many more to come. Liddle Wonder grows a selection that we've found to be good performers.

Paradise Varieties

Below you'll find plants whose charactistics show some of the following improvements when compared with ordinary sasanqua camellia; longer flowering, improved harsh weather tolerance and stronger flowers, better perfume, improved growth habits, new colours, and improved sun-tolerance.

You'll find plants that are great as garden specimens, hedges, patio pots and tubs, topiary, espaliers and even bonsai.

	Paradise Belinda An outstanding producer of large brilliant glowing pink flowers with a stunning flower centre which is a combination of stamens, petaloids, and small petals. A dense and compact habit with glossy dark green leaves, providing an ideal contrast to the vibrant flowers. An ideal hedging specimen growing naturally to 2-3 metres.
	Paradise Blush A landscapers dream: neat, upright, slender and quick growing. Flowers are medium in size, semi-double with deep pink buds, opening to almost white with a pink reverse on the outer petals. Producing masses of flowers against dark shiny green leaves, it is excellent as a hedging or screen plant, and also suitable as an attractive tub or garden specimen. Unpruned, it will reach 3-4 metres.
	Paradise Gillian Produces delicate semi-double, with the ocassional fromal double blooms, white faintly edged with soft pink against a background of shiny green foliage. Vigorous and upright in habit, suitable for a medium hedge.
	Paradise Glow Similar to, but an improved version of ‘Plantation Pink’. Flowers are a large deep glowing pink, single with a centre of bright yellow stamens set against dark glossy green leaves. This variety has an upright, slightly open habit.
	Paradise Helen A free flowering sasanqua with an elegant upright growth habit. Masses of brilliant pink buds are produced which open white with delicate soft pink shading. Flowers are medium in size, informal double with golden yellow stamens mixed with small petals and petaloids. Flowering over a long period, it is quick growing to around 3 metres, making an excellent screen or garden specimen.
	Paradise HildaA vigorous upright grower, producing medium-sized mid-pink flowers in the form of an open peony. This plant flowers early in the season and continues over a long period. A quick growing variety, making it very suitable for hedges and screens, at a maximum of 2-3 metres.
	Paradise Joan Produces very showy large red loose informal double flowers with a centre of golden stamens. Starts with an open habit which becomes dense with age and has a long flowering period. This sasanqua is a worthy asset to any winter garden. Ideal to espalier, and if not trained or pruned will grow to 3-4 metres.
	Paradise Little LianeA small-leafed, compact autumn flowering camellia growing to around a metre tall. Flowers are small white with a faint pink margin and a loose informal peony form. The centre is a mixture of stamens, petaloids and small petals. This sasanqua was specially selected because of its dense compact flowering habit, making it suitable for low hedges and topiary. One of the earliest varieties in the Paradise range.
	Paradise PearlFlowers in profusion over a long period. Flowers are large, mostly semi-double with occasional formal double blooms. Flower buds are pink opening to white. Growth habit is upright and compact with dark glossy green leaves. It can eventually reach 2-3 metres.
	Paradise PetiteOne of the first of the Paradise range of dwarf sasanquas. Flowers are small, soft pink in the form of a loose informal peony. The flower centre is composed of stamens, petaloids, and small petals which provide a very attractive combination set against small-leafed dark green foliage. A small dense habit, to about a metre tall, makes it ideal for clipping into topiary or for small hedges.
	Paradise Venessa An outstanding variety with very large brilliant white flowers which have a pink flush on the outer petals and a number of petaloid stamens. A vigorous upright growth habit, around 3-4 metres, makes it ideal as a hedge or screen. Paradise Plants’ most popular variety.

Using

Camellia sasanquas originated in the forests of Japan as shrubs or small trees. Growing in sun or under a forest canopy, they are variable in growth habit and leaf size and have a small single white flower with the occasional soft pink bloom.

Over the centuries the best forms were introduced into Japanese gardens and by the early 1900’s the colour range had extended from white through to deep red with both double and single flowers.

In time the best Japanese varieties made their way around the world. Many local varieties were then developed.

Today they are one of the most versatile shrubs available to gardeners, and are used as screens, formal hedges, espaliers, columnar forms framing gates and entrances, as groundcovers, and container plants adorning terraces and patios. They typically have deep green glossy foliage and cover a wide range of growth habits, size, and flower forms and colours.

Hedges

With evergreen glossy foliage and blooms that are produced profusely for three months each year, camellia sasanquas are a perfect hedging choice for gardeners. Not all varieties of sasanquas are suitable for hedges as some have a more open habit of growth. We recommend the following varieties:

Pruning Hedges

With age, all camellia sasanquas can grow into small trees as seen in old gardens. However, with regular pruning they can be kept to any size – even our dwarf varieties can grow into large plants unless pruned.

The timing of when you prune camellias can significantly affect the number of blooms, as pruning at the wrong time of the year can remove your flower buds.

In most areas where sasanquas grow, plants have a spring or early summer flush of growth. This new growth in spring produces flowers in autumn, so if all this growth is removed you will end up with foliage only. Therefore from spring to summer only prune lightly to shape the bush. In most areas, if your plants are well cared for, there is another flush of growth in mid to late summer.

This growth rarely produces flowers and can be pruned off. The optimum time for heavy pruning to keep hedges at their desired size is best done after flowering in late winter.
Pots and Tubs

Camellia sasanquas make lovely container plants, which can be kept in pots on your veranda or balcony for many years. These plants are best pruned annually after flowering to maintain their required size.

Camellia sasanquas are ideal to espalier. Their glossy foliage and prolific flowering habit makes them a perfect plant to train fan-like against a wall, fence or lattice work. In addition, tolerance to most garden soils and aspects makes the camellia sasanqua one of the best plants to espalier. Some varieties are better than others; those with arching branches are the most desirable.

Among the Paradise varieties we recommend the following:

Bonsai

Camellia sasanquas are often used as bonsai specimens. Our Paradise dwarf growing varieties can, with patience, grow into delightful plants. Varieties we recommend are:

Growing Paradise sasanqua Camellias

Paradise sasanqua Camellias are one of the most versatile and easily grown shrubs available today. They tolerate a wide range of soil and climatic conditions, and as long as a few simple steps are followed they’ll bring joy to gardens everywhere.

Sun

Camellia sasanquas grow equally well in sun or shade. In full sun they benefit from a thick mulch applied around the plant to keep the roots cool in summer. Where conditions are very hot or windy, young plants can be protected by a screen of shade cloth or sacking for the first year.

Shade

We are often asked if camellia sasanquas grow in full shade. Yes they do. They love shade. In a very shady place their growth habit may be more open, but otherwise they grow and flower well in these conditions.

Soil

Camellias prefer a well-drained acid soil. They will not grow in water-logged areas and, in places where the water does not drain away easily, they will most likely not thrive.

Heavy soils accommodate camellias equally as well as sandy soils and in all soil types the addition of well-composted manure, peat or compost worked into the soil will greatly benefit your plants. Take care not to use mushroom compost in large amounts.

Planting

If the soil is friable and well-prepared, planting should not be a problem. Ensure that the top of the soil level in the pot is level with the top of the bed. If planting in clay soils, dig a large planting hole and mix in plenty of compost or peat moss. Make sure water can drain away.

Staking

It is advisable to stake your camellia when you plant. As your sasanqua grows, the new growth often bends over until the wood hardens. By staking you will produce a larger plant more quickly.

Watering

After planting you must water around the base of each camellia for several weeks. This is most important because, until the roots grow out of their original pot soil into your surrounding damp soil, the soil area containing the roots can dry out. This will result in leaf drop, especially on hot or windy days. In our nursery during hot weather we water daily. If the soil is well-drained it is difficult to over-water.

Mulch

Mulch on top of the soil around your plant keeps the roots cool and damp and is most beneficial.

Feeding

The most frequent reason camellias die is because they are fed at the wrong time.

Feed your camellias only in spring or summer. You normally buy camellias in autumn or winter but if you buy and apply your fertiliser at the same time, you may kill them. So be patient and wait for spring.

How much food depends on the type of fertiliser you use. For young plants and potted plants a slow release fertiliser applied once in spring is quite good.

Large established plants are best fed with camellia and azalea food once in spring and again in mid summer. Use one handful per square metre of surface area, no more.

Manures are good to use but take care not to use too much at any one time especially with poultry manure – a little used often is best.

Pruning

Where there is vigorous young growth camellia sasanquas often look leggy. We do not advise pruning this growth, as the next growth flush fills out the plants. Prune at any time of the year, but remember your flowers form on the growth made in spring. Prune off this spring growth and you will be pruning off your flowers. The best time to prune is in winter, when flowering has finished.

Pests and Diseases

Camellias planted in well-drained soil with regular feeding are rarely affected by pests and diseases. They are one of the easiest plants to grow and reward by flowering from late summer through to early winter.

Frosts

Being autumn flowering, camellias usually flower before frost can damage the blooms. Frost can however, damage the flowers in colder areas. In frosty open areas the foliage discolours and looks quite ill. But with the return of warm weather, the plants grow on again. Consistent temperatures below minus 5°Celsius can kill camellias.

Paradise sasanqua Camellia are specifically selected for longer flowering periods, perfume, improved growth habits and different colours. Look out for the distinctive Paradise Camellia Labels and our detailed guide to Paradise sasanqua Camellia Varieties at your garden centre.

Look out for the distinctive Paradise Camellia Labels and our detailed guide to Using and Growing Paradise Camellia at your garden centre.