This aristocratic member of the Camellia family was the very first Camellia reticulata to be brought to the west from Yunnan in China in 1820. Captain Rawes, an East Indianman skipper took a small plant back with him to England and gave it to a relative with a horticultural bent.It flowered for the first time four years later and the size, and colouring of the flowers caused such interest that many plant hunters went out to China to bring back more gorgeous varieties of Reticulatas .Captain Rawes is a sterile species so could not be used for breeding purposes but many others have been crossed with other Camellia species to give us compact bushy growers with enormous iridescent coloured flowers.
Camellia reticulata Captain Rawes grows into a small sized tree with an open branching habit. It flowers from late winter and the tree pictured had many Tuis feeding from the open flowers when I photographed it. The colour is a rich rose pink and the petal texture is thick and waxy. A single flower fits into two hand widths.
Reticulata Camellias are a lot more expensive to buy than their cousins as they are grafted and this process takes time to produce a saleable plant. They require a lighter more well drained soil and do not enjoy shaded positions. As they are trees place them where they can be enjoyed as specimens. Stake when young and water through the first few years. This tree puts down roots many metres into the ground and once established will tolerate considerable neglect. Reticulatas have a long flowering period and each flower can last for days. The individual flowers are lovely in a float bowl. Allow room for their arching branches to develop and only prune after flowering. Reticulatas readily form seed with mature seed heads looking like brown furry golf balls.Remove these as they form otherwise few flower buds will be set for next years flowering. Luckily the variety Captain Rawes doesn’t set seed.
Camellia reticulatas may be hard to find for sale but a few keen growers still produce them so do ask at your plant centres.Below is a list of a few reticulate hybrids that should be still around for sale
Camellia Crimson Robe
Bright carmine red, very large semi double flowers. Wavy crinkled crepe textured petals surround the boss of golden stamens.. A spreading open grower. Leaves may be margined with cream and yellow.
Camellia Dr Clifford Parks
Very large semi double flowers with flowers of different form on the same bush. They may be of loose anemone form, and loose or full peony form, all displaying the central boss of golden stamens.. Flame red flowers have an orange iridescence. Vigorous grower.
Camellia Francie L
Rose pink flowers are very large and semi double with irregular and delicately wavy petals.They surround a central boss of golden stamens. Growth habit is tall and sparsely foliaged.
Camellia Lasca Beauty
Very large semi double flowers are soft pink and surround tha central boss of golden stamens. Thick textured petals. A vigorous open and upright growth habit.
Camellia Purple Gown
Purple red with white to wine red pin stripes to the petals. Large to very large formal double with wavy petals. A compact grower.
Camellia Valentine Day
Salmon pink flowers are large to very large. Formal flowers have in their centre a perfectly formed half opened rosebud .An upright grower. Considered the most perfectly formed flower in the breeding world of Reticulata crosses.
