Happy New Year everybody! The &8220;Let it Grow&8221; articles for the month of January 2007 will be dedicated to our state flower, the camellia.

The reason for the camellia being the topic for this and the four articles is because there&8217;s a lot to write about! I&8217;ll start with an overview of planting techniques &045; where to plant, water and fertilize. Then in the coming articles I&8217;ll cover these and other camellia, topics with more details.

There are more than 200 known species of Camellias. The most common ornamentals here in North America are Camellia japonica, Camellia reticulata and Camellia sasanqua. There are more than 20,000 cultivars grown by enthusiasts and amateur horticulturists making these beautiful flowering woody ornamentals some of the most popular plants grown in our landscape.

Here are some considerations and instructions to help you choose your first in what I hope is the beginning of your camellia collection.

First of all, consider what colors you like best. Camellias come in a wide variety of whites, pinks, reds and oranges. (Keep in mind that one gardener&8217;s cerise is another gardener&8217;s fuchsia)

Then find out the hardiness of the choices you&8217;ve made. Some camellias can suffer bloom damage from as little as a two degree variation in freezing temperatures.

Planting basics 101:

-Location should be the next step in choosing your camellia. What kind of sun exposure can your plant tolerate?

-Watering? Camellias enjoy water in well-drained soil.

-Fertilizing? Get a soil test. Most camellias prefer soils similar to rhododendrons or azaleas. Don&8217;t fertilize the first year unless it is with composted organic matter. After your camellia is established use a low NPK balanced composition, like 08-08-08.

-The planting hole should be about twice the size as the root ball. Backfill the bottom of the hole with soil that was removed and place in a mound for the root ball to sit on. Add the rest of the soil to the hole mixed with 30 to 50 percent composted organic matter. Make sure the root ball is about one inch above the soil plane. If you planted on an incline, make sure the camellia is standing upright