Return to the Shrubs Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
Posted by
sam_md z7 MD (
My Page) on
Sat, Nov 3, 12 at 20:07
This selection of Camellia oleifera has got to be my favorite fall-blooming camellia. This one was raised from a cutting from the original at the Nat'l Arboretum which now measures over 24' in height. The flowers have a musky smell which I like. If you live in an area where C. japonica buds freeze in the winter or blight in the spring, think about a fall-blooming camellia.
Here Common Witch-Hazel is in full bloom. The entire plant is a mass of yellow which presents a photographer's challenge for me. Easier to take a shot of one branch. Flowers have a sweet smell.
These pics were taken today. How about you, do you have any shrubs blooming now?
|
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
| Boy, do I want that Camellia! Did you buy it at the Arboretum sale? I have skipped that the last few years. Looks like I had better get here next spring. The witch-hazel is beautiful, too. |
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
- Posted by bboy USDA 8 Sunset 5 WA (My Page) on
Wed, Nov 7, 12 at 12:43
| Vendors come up when you Google. Species has been on the wholesale market because an independent garden center here has stocked it before, perhaps the same selection. |
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
| You didn't mention anything about the bark, but 'Lu Shan Snow' has the most exceptionally beautiful, cinnamon-colored smooth bark when mature. Of course, it hardly qualifies as a shrub given its mature dimensions... but it would be a gift to any garden with enough space to grow it. 'Lu Shan Snow' is very different from most selections of C. oleifera, in my opinion, but luckily the cultivar has been introduced and commercialized. |
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
- Posted by bboy USDA 8 Sunset 5 WA (My Page) on
Sat, Nov 10, 12 at 12:02
| Many other camellias will be tall at 50 years of age also. Like other slow-growing but long-lived evergreens, they just keep rising up over the years, unless whacked back. C. japonica over 30' tall have been measured in Seattle. |
Here is a link that might be useful: The U.S. National Arboretum presents Camellia oleifera 'Lu Shan Snow', an exceptionally hardy, fall blooming, tea-oil camellia that can tolerate temperatures as low as -10° F
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
| That's absolutely correct--although it is a phenomenon that people in this climate are less likely to have seen examples of in the flesh since the plants are less common and (unshorn) living examples of great age are rare. That will likely change as hardy selections become more available and landscapes continue to mature. It's also worth noting for anyone interested that 'Lu Shan Snow' is a somewhat atypical-looking C. oleifera (with much more attractive foliage and somewhat showier flowers), and it would be interesting to know if that is due only to intraspecific variation. It has been documented to donate somewhat lesser winter hardiness to its offspring compared to some other selections of the species, such as Ackerman's 'Plain Jane', and was probably not used as extensively as a parent for that reason. |
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
'Lu Shan Snow' is offered by Fairweather Gardens. It must be understood that FG is not a run-of-the-mill mailorder nursery. Those guys devoted themselves to Ackerman's collection.
All plants sell best when they are blooming. It seems that the average mortar & brick retailer would have a hard time selling fall blooming anything, especially after several frosts. Adding to that, 'Lu Shan Snow' takes a while to come into its own. I raised the plant in my OP from a cutting, its beautiful now but took several years to get to this point. Also, it gets at least 1/2 day sun. Even people who don't usually notice plants (such as every member of my family :( comment on this plant. Right now it has a nice carpet of pine needles under it which it really loves. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Fairweather Gardens
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
- Posted by bboy USDA 8 Sunset 5 WA (My Page) on
Tue, Nov 13, 12 at 16:44
| The fact that it's a single flower with big gaps between the petals is going to eliminate most consumers right there. |
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
I took this pic today in Maryland. This large shrub is smothered in fragrant flowers, especially welcome in November. Leaf margin is entire and spineless. Who else has flowering shrubs in November? Can you name it?
 |
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
| That's a mature form of Osmanthus heterophyllus. |
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
| My Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Gulftide' is in full, fragrant bloom - a great shrub (that is also very useful) for those who can grow it. Stefan are you sure that the photo is heterophyllus - that translates to 'different leaves' and refers to the fact that some are holly-shaped (toothed) and others not. Love that Camellia - that may be the first Camellia that I have ever seen that I liked. I am going to have to try to hunt that down, thanks for posting that photo! |
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
| Thanks for posting, though I'm experiencing zone envy. My in-laws have a couple of Ericas/Heaths blooming right now. I thought they usually bloomed late winter, but perhaps they have gotten enough chill to want to bloom now, or perhaps they are a late fall-blooming variety. I'll try to get a photo in the next few days. |
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
| Sadly, I just discovered that Fairweather Gardens does not ship to California...too bad, as they have some lovely selections in addition to the Camellia. |
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
- Posted by bboy USDA 8 Sunset 5 WA (My Page) on
Tue, Nov 20, 12 at 21:08
| Nuccio's has listed the straight species for years, as well as multiple other species camellias. |
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
- Posted by whaas 5a SE WI (NW) (My Page) on
Tue, Nov 20, 12 at 22:20
| I have a Sheffield Mum just barely blooming, does that count? Most plants dropped leaves and blooms for that matter in early October. Zone envy here as well... |
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
This osmanthus is especially nice, perhaps 6' high and 10' wide and dense. The leaves are totally lacking lobes or teeth or spines, can someone provide a cv. name?
 |
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
Knock-out roses are a common sight anymore. Judging by the flower buds, these should be blooming well into December. I really can't fault this rose group.
 |
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
| I should have been more clear, the two pics of osmanthus are the same plant, can anyone name this cultivar? I can't. |
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
- Posted by bboy USDA 8 Sunset 5 WA (My Page) on
Wed, Nov 21, 12 at 20:55
| It's probably already been answered. Definitely a hollyleaf osmanthus, not definitely a cultivar. |
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
stefanb8 wrote you didn't mention anything about the bark.... and he's right. Here's the bark of C. oleifera 'Lu Shan Snow', one more attractive feature of a mature specimen.
 |
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
With this thread I'm trying to squeeze every drop out of the Fall season that's possible. Afterall, the Winter Solstice doesn't occur for another 21 days.
Here's C. sasanqua 'Yuletide' taken today:
Here's an unnamed seedling of C. oleifera, pic taken today at the Nat'l Arboretum. The large shrub is absolutely smothered with flowers. At least for us, the first week of December is supposed to be mild, it will be a great time for these fall-blooming plants.
|
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
Winter Sweet lives up to its name during the mild spells that we've been having. The perfume is really strong. This one has Fall foliage color and flowers at the same time. Pic taken today
 |
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
| This magnolia was acting up on Saturday... |
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
Pic taken today in downtown Baltimore. Never seen roses in January before. If this keeps up we will have cherry flowers next month.
 |
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
| Great post! Sam, how large is your 'Lu Shan Snow' now? I have an oleifer seedling that is blooming after only about 2 years in ground. That's pretty good. I'll need to move it though, but maybe I should get a 'Lu Shan' instead, since it seems to be a superior cultivar. The shrubby Osmanthus is likely heterophyllus. Osmanthus americanus has much larger leaves. Hard to know if it's a cultivar though. So many look alike. Its epithet 'hetero-phyllos' means both immature (holly form) and mature (entire) leaves can exist on the plant at the same time. If you look closer to the ground, likely you can find the immature leaf form. It's been a great year for camellias. Mine are still in bloom since October (some varieties). Knockout Roses still blooming too...into January. Amazing. |
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
- Posted by bboy USDA 8 Sunset 5 WA (My Page) on
Sat, Jan 12, 13 at 15:10
| The magnolia is one of the Asiatic evergreen ones, formerly Michelia. 'Yuletide' belongs to Camellia x vernalis, C. sasanqua does not produce red flowers. The cultivar would get the redness from the C. japonica half of its parentage. |
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
Hi Daveinnova, the 'Lu Shan Snow' in my op is 8 or 9'high and about 6' wide. I might mention that the foliage is dull and not glossy. I like the single flowers of this one and others because only the single flowers are fragrant. I really feel like the more sun the better for this plant to make flowers.
Regarding Osmanthus I remember seeing an entire hedge of them at Tufton Farm which is next to Monticello in Charlottesville. (actually I smelled them first) The foliage was as you described. OTOH the Osmanthus in my pic was found in an unremarkable front yard in Queen Anne's County which is probably zone 7b, there was nary a spine on the foliage, I looked! I think Stefanb8's observations are accurate, he also pointed out to me that this is a fruiting specimen. Am going back to the site next June and ask to take cuttings.
I see by your member page that you like evergreen oaks, do you have any interest in Lithocarpus? They would do well for you.
If you come to Green Spring Gardens Sale on May 18 there will be a non-profit vendor there with many camellias. |
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
| Sam, I got my small C. oleifera seedling at the Camellia Sale at Brookside Gardens one Spring. I'm a member of the Camellia Club. And I do live not far from Green Spring, so have attended those sales on occasion. regarding Lithocarpus. I like any BLE, so Lithocarpus is on my list. I have some seeds starting, but still not sure where in my yard it would go. I also have many other BLEs in pots that still need a spot. LOL! Regarding evergreen oaks in general, I currently have, in ground, three Q. virginianas, two Q. myrsinifolias, and one Ubame Oak (Quercus phillyraeoides). I have some Q. acutas that need to be planted out. Here's a shot of a nice O. heterophyllum at the National Arboretum. Getting to be huge. It reminds me of an old olive tree. |
Closeup of that Osmanthus
| | |
| Sam, here's a closeup of that Osmanthus at the arboretum. There are no spines on this mature foliage. |
RE: 'Lu Shan Snow'
| | |
- Posted by bboy USDA 8 Sunset 5 WA (My Page) on
Fri, Jan 18, 13 at 14:01
| Known over 22' tall in Seattle (USDA 8). |
Post a Follow-Up
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in.
If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Shrubs Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.
