Yes, camellias are something of an uptight old lady flower. Maybe that’s why I adore them. Also known as the “Japanese rose,” the flowers are similar to roses, but are broader and more defined. Camellia blossoms are reminiscent of one of the nostalgically perfect roses you would look for on antebellum wallpaper. By modern standards they look something like a Mary Engelbreit cartoon rose. They would probably be more popular than thorny old roses if they had a fragrance. As evergreens, they can grow to impressive heights, and provide giant walls of fairy tale roses stylized with dazzling flashes of silky color set on glossy, deep green leaves. Next to their breathtaking presence, the best thing about them is that they start their show around Christmas! Nothing says the holidays for me like bowls and bowls of camellias spread around the house. They’re just splendid! But…ahem…these camellias are in the Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park in Tallahassee. They get mad if you pick them there. Trust me.
Small: 11.75” x 16” – $160.00 | Medium: 23.5” x 32” – $210.00 | Large: 35.25” x 48” – $470.00