December's plant of the month is the Camellia, a real Gainesville favourite at this time of year for its colourful, showy blooms in every colour from pure white to the deepest of reds. The flowers look rather like larger roses, single, cup-shaped and about 7cm across. They're often scented, too – cut a few to perfume the house when there's little else in bloom in your Gainesville lawn.
Camellias are evergreen, making big, handsome shrubs up to 9' tall, so give them plenty of room in the landscape design to fully mature and make sure they have a place where their winter beauty can be truly appreciated. There are also more compact varieties, like 'Paradise Petite', more suitable for growing in smaller beds or containers.
They're woodland plants, so enjoy a shady spot – though avoid east-facing areas as their blooms are very susceptible to frost damage when caught by early sunshine.
The other must-have for camellias is an acidic soil much like the Azalea, which is very common in Alachua County landscapes. A fairly low-maintneance plant, it fits well in Xeric landscaping as well as your basic Gainesville landscape. Plant them in the right spot and they'll perform gloriously for many years to come.
Gainesville Landscape Plant of the Month: Camellia
