Grantham's Camellia. This relatively rare and under-appreciated species Camellia was first discovered in 1955 as a lone specimen in the Tai Mo Shan ravine on Hong Kong by the Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department. Later other specimens were found on the Chinese mainland. It was named for the then British governor of Hong Kong, Sir Alexander Grantham. When one first sees this plant in flower, one becomes enamored with the huge single white flowers with bright yellow stamens. The flower buds are particularly interesting. They have papery brown bud scales which give the appearance of a dead bud, but when the flower opens, one is easily dissuaded of this notion. Someone even told me a while back that when their plant set flower buds for the first time, that they thought that they were all dead. So they removed them from their plant, later to find that this was natural. I am classing it as a zone 7b-10 plant. The only time that we have seen cold damage in Augusta was in the mid-80 freezes when we reached zero degrees F or slightly below. Many plants were killed back, but then they re-sprouted. The leaves have a distinct venation as well. Often when customers first visit our nursery and have never seen then selection in flower, the first comment upon entering is, "What is that huge white Camellia?" Ours are on their own roots and once in the ground grow very rapidly. My original plant was shared with me by Mr. Walter Wilson of Augusta, GA. who was one of the original founders of the American Camellia Society. And this plant now is 12 ft. or more in height. It appreciates a well drained soil with uniform moisture.
Zones 7b-10
