Just as American Idol Taylor Hicks beat out his fellow Idol contestants to become this year's American Idol, the Camellia beat out the goldenrod to become the state flower of Alabama, Hicks' home state.
In 1927, the state of Alabama officially adopted the goldenrod as the state flower. It reigned in the position for many years until the Legislature replaced the goldenrod with the camellia. There are a few theories as to why this change occurred. Some say that the women of Alabama requested the change because they preferred the beautiful camellia to the goldenrod, which they considered a weed. Others say that the goldenrod was an allergy aggravator, so it wasn't an appropriate symbol of the state. However, the validity of this theory is in question since goldenrod pollen is often blamed for allergies when the real culprit is ragweed. Whatever the case, the camellia, an exotic flower native to Asia became the official state flower of Alabama in June of 1999.
The camellia is found in its natural environment throughout eastern and southern Asia. It is an evergreen shrub that produces beautiful flowers in the fall and winter months. In America, they are typically grown in gardens from southeastern Virginia, into North and South Carolina, and down to Florida. They are also grown in the Gulf Coast regions as well as along the Pacific coast.
Camellias come in a number of varieties¡Xsome say there are thousands of varieties while others say there are only a few hundred. The blooms are large and come in shades of pink, red, white, and yellow. Although the flowers are exquisite, many people love the camellia just as much for its foliage as for the blooms. The leaves are thick and serrated with a glossy sheen.
Camellias can be grown either outdoors or inside. They can withstand cool temperatures, with some varieties able to endure temperatures as low as 10 degrees F. Although the plant itself may be able to handle the cold, the flowers won't fare as well. They may be damaged when the temperature dips below freezing. For that reason, they are best grown indoors if you don't live in the "camellia belt."
Camellias prefer acidic soil and will not grow well in soil that is chalky or has a high calcium content. Additionally, they require a great deal of water and cannot endure drought. Their growing area should also be well drained.
With a talent for catching the eye of the discerning gardener, it's not surprising that the camellia won out over the goldenrod as Alabama's state flower, just as Alabama's native son, Taylor Hicks, claimed victory over his competitors.
Wesley Berry is member of the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) and President of Wesley Berry Flowers, a successful multi-million dollar floral business that was established in 1946. As a major sponsor of Local-Library.com and LocalSchoolFinder.com, Wesley Berry has worked hard on behalf of improving literacy. Visit Wesley Berry Flowers on the web at www.800wesleys.com.