CAN'T Find this one!!

11 years ago

Greetings folks,
Well, the old expression of there is always ONE MORE out there that you just HAVE to Have!! Has really hit home with me.
I am in search of Camellia japonica "Polar Bear".
I made the mistake of joining numerous Camellia Societies from around the world and in one of the newsletters they discussed Polar Bear.
I know there are plenty of other white Camellias out there, I have a couple of reason why I want this particular one.
1) The ACS National Convention is coming to Charleston in 2016 and Polar Bear is an Australian Cultivar. There is an award at the national for the most outstanding Australian cultivar.
2) There is an inside joke with my brass ensemble that has to do with a Polar Bear.
Does anybody in the states know of one? Nuccios does not list it, neither does Cam-Too or any of the other southeastern nurseries. Australia looks like the only place and they ain't shipping here!!! LOL
Any help will be greatly appreciated!!
Darren

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Comments (6)

User
11 years ago
My guess is that it probably is no longer in commerce, and it's possible that it never has been imported here.

If it was ever grown Stateside, you may want to contact some gardens with good camellia collections to see if they've ever grown it, and if they still have a specimen. Magnolia Gardens is the obvious place to start since you're in Charleston, but phone calls or e-mails to botanical gardens listed at the ACS web site may provide some clues.

Good luck,
Virginia
The Citrus Guy
Original Author
11 years ago
Hey Virginia,
Believe it or not, they haven't even heard of it at Magnolia. I am friends with all of them out there. Apparently it never has made it to the states. I am hoping to change that sometime in the near future.
Thanks!
Darren
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User
11 years ago
I understand why the laws regarding importation of plants from outside the country need to be strict, but it does seem that there ought to be an easier way to accomplish safe plant imports. It is an unnecessarily convoluted process, IMO.

What I wouldn't give to be able to order some of the gorgeous old European camellias from, say, Camelias Flavius in Portugal... or from some of other European or Australasian nurseries...

Good luck,
Virginia

Here is a link that might be useful: Camelias Flavius nursery web site
luis_pr
11 years ago
Little chances of this working out but:

See if Dan Hinkley ever brought a specimen to the Botanical Garden Heronwood (in WA). Specimens would have to have survived the 6 year shutdown they had in 2006 though.

Just in case it is of interest, Heronwood also has a Spring Sales on March 28 and May 16
Embothrium
11 years ago
Double posting, please proceed to the next.

This post was edited by bboy on Tue, Feb 3, 15 at 19:12
Embothrium
11 years ago
Possibly there is one or two kinds but I don't remember seeing any Camellia japonica at Heronswood, I'd be surprised if it happened they brought this particular one in. To find out for sure I would simply e-mail Dan through his web site.

The main camellia display in this area is at the Seattle arboretum. But this appears to be yet another place that isn't listing C. japonica 'Polar Bear' (below).

I also see that it is not in the index of Jennifer Trehane's 2007 camellia book. Of course, there are a great many different kinds of camellias - the terrific camellia encyclopedia they had at the Center for Urban Horticulture before the arson fire was several thick volumes.

Here is a link that might be useful: Washington Park Arboretum Collection Search