Can I grow a camellia in zone 5 (chicago)? If so, what variety?

Question

I've seen read about camellias thriving in zones 7-9. I love them and I'd love to have one in my garden!!

Answer 1

Oh Juan, you like me, live in zone 5 (thanks for the USDA hardiness zone reference, it really helps)... and wish for a Camellia to grow in our garden and call our own.

The hardiest I've seen Camellia's listed is for zone 6. Hmmm but Chicago, like Detroit probably has micro-climates (small areas that are warmer than the rest of the zone) that could allow such a gem to survive... but it won't be fool-proof. You may have success for years, then a bad winter and bam! the Camellia is dead from a bad winter. I guess the moral of the story is... don't spend more on it than you're willing to throw away year after year.

You won't find one in a nursery local to you, so you'll have to mail order it. I love www.forestfarm.com I think they're a great retail catalogue. I'd also reference a book by Dr. Micheal Dirr, "The manual of Woody Landscape Plants", he lists a whole bunch of Camellias, and breaks them down by hardiness.

Good luck!
I hope that this helps

Answer 2

Camellias don't mind the cold - think of where they grow - up mountains in China etc.
They do dislike lime in the soil, so if you plant it and do not have acid soil, you will have to buy a bag of ericacious (?spelling) compost to plant it into and always water it with rain (not tap) water.
Another thing a camellia hates is early morning sun shine after a frost.....so the positioning is important too. It seems to need to thaw very gently and doesn't mind getting frozen.
As to type - it depends on your preferences - you can get lax, open flowers or tight rose like centres. They come in every colour from deep pink to splashed colours to white.
Take your pick!

Answer 3

By zone 5 I am assuming -20 to -10 F as the lower limit.
Only the fall blooming Camellia oliefera is that cold hardy. These have been used as base breeding stock to create a mostly fall blooming series by William L. Ackerman from the U.S. National Arboretum . He did get some 15 spring blooming varieties however but they list zone 5b - 6 (-26 to -20 F) as their range. Do you have a sheltered spot? Southwest facing where it both holds heat overnight and does not get a sudden rise in AM temps. It is warming to quickly that often hurts the plant not freezing.
http://camellia-ics.org/_ics/ackerm1.htm
'Red Fellow' -20, 'Londontown' -20, 'Frost queen' -20
http://members.cox.net/vacs/cold_hardy.htm
http://www.monrovia.com/PlantInf.nsf/709359cd399269ec8825684d0078b8fd/b327e0d8cf6ff1e98825684d0070ba6a!OpenDocument
http://www.waysidegardens.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10151&langId=-1&mainPage=LGprodview&ItemId=48929&PrevMainPage=gatepage&scChannel=Gate%20Monrovia&OfferCode=TH3
'Winter Snowman' is columnar so good for narrow spaces. White anemone form flower.
http://www.waysidegardens.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10151&langId=-1&mainPage=LGprodview&ItemId=49827&PrevMainPage=gatepage&scChannel=Gate%20Monrovia&OfferCode=TH3