
Camellia amplexicaulis
It is one of the tropical camellias, a relatively recent discovery in Vietnam. We saw it growing outdoors at the botanic gardens* in Foshan, amongst the yellow camellia collection which is similarly tropical. It was reasonably substantial β a handsome, large shrub at maybe 2.5 metres tall. The foliage was striking with huge, lush, textured leaves while the flowers had very thick petals. The information board below said it flowered from summer to autumn and sometimes all year round. This would be because it is a tropical plant from a climate without marked seasonal change. We were viewing blooms in early spring.

Camellia amplexicaulis in bud
Whether our mild, temperate climate would suit Camellia amplexicaulis is not certain. We have trouble getting the tropical yellow species to bloom here. But it is such a handsome and interesting camellia that it is worth a try. And if it does flower here, it may bloom outside peak petal blight season and the heavy texture of the blooms means it would not be as prone to weather damage as many other softer textured camellias.

Not quite a forestry institute as we understand it – Foshan
*I refer to the botanic gardens in Foshan though the official itinerary names it as the Institute of Forestry Science. While we associate forestry with commercial production of Pinus radiata in this country, the southern Chinese forests contain many wild camellias and the forestry institutes appear to have a conservation responsibility for indigenous plants.
Dear Abby,
I live at Hikutaia, which is in a valley between Paeroa & Thames, at the base of the Coromandel Peninsula. We have Kiwifruit orchards and on one of them I have 9 Of my favourite magnolias, Felix Jury. They have been in the ground 8 – 10 years and are approx 18 ft high. The last two years I have hardly had a flower on them – like 6 flowers in total over the 9 trees. Last year I could see that the flower buds had been eaten, so this year I have been keeping a very close watch on them, and today I discover lots of buds have been eaten ( something that has happened over the last couple of days) there are still lots of flower buds that are fine ( at this stage). Do you have any idea of what could be eating my flower buds, or any cure I might be able to apply. I would love my magnolias to look the spectacular sight they should be.
I await your reply,
Yours faithfully
Jeannine Cassells
I will go out and take some pics to send you
Sent from my iPad
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Possum. Shoot the varmint. It is usually only one animal that develops a taste for magnolia buds so if you stalk it at night and shoot it, you may have solved the proble!m.