Camellia

Camellia, the wonderful evergreen flowering shrub, has flower buds opening now in our lovely coastal region. Some varieties flower in fall and winter, and some grow as tall as trees! If you have young plants but haven't yet fertilized them, consider adding a balanced fertilizer after blooming. An annual thick layer of shredded bark mulch or leaf mould will keep the roots happy as they like to be shaded. There are over 250 species, and they are native to southern and eastern Asia, thriving in acidic soils. Have you got coffee grinds? Compost them at the roots of your shrub!