Camellia

Christian F. Miller

This document provides a detailed overview of the tea scale, Fiorinia theae, an insect pest native to Asia and now found in various parts of the world, including the southeastern United States. It covers the insect's distribution, life cycle, physical characteristics, and economic significance, particularly its impact on ornamental plants like camellias and hollies. The article also discusses management strategies, including cultural, chemical, and biological controls, to mitigate the pest's impact. This document is part of the UF/IFAS Extension's Featured Creatures collection, aimed at both laypersons and academic audiences interested in entomology. First published: November 2001.

Rylee Rejonis andCharles L. Guy

Camellias grow better in acidic soils, which have a lower pH that can affect nutrient uptake. Aluminum is more easily taken up at these lower pH levels. Camellias, being aluminum accumulators, can benefit from aluminum uptake. This publication is intended for those growing camellias in their gardens and those interested in the uptake and effects of aluminum on these plants.

Sydney Park Brown

Native to Asia, the first camellia plants were brought to America in 1797 and grown in New England greenhouses. Over the last 200 years, they have proven to be dependable additions to the southern landscape, where they grow and bloom with minimal care in most inland areas of North and Central Florida. Camellias are long lived and function well as foundation plantings, screens, accent plants, background groupings, and hedges. Camellias flower in the fall and winter when few other plants are blooming. For the remainder of the year, their glossy, evergreen foliage, interesting forms and textures, relatively slow growth, and low maintenance make camellias excellent landscape plants worthy of more use.

H. A. Denmark, W. C. Welbourn, and T. R. Fasulo

The Featured Creatures collection provides in-depth profiles of insects, nematodes, arachnids and other organisms relevant to Florida. These profiles are intended for the use of interested laypersons with some knowledge of biology as well as academic audiences.