General Description/History

Most blossom branches sold in Australia are Prunus or Japonica – Azaleas are mostly sold as pot plants and Camellia as foliage, but you can find flowering branches of these two from time to time. The season is short and for Prunus flowering will only last 3 to 4 weeks at the most.

Prunus blossoms are white to pale pink with 5 petals per flower and dozens of flowers per branch. Japonica flowers are red, have 5 petals and are larger than Prunus. They tend to flower earlier than Prunus – usually in late winter. Azaleas have much shorter stems (usually 20 – 40 cm) with large flowers in many colours. Camellia produces large white, pink or red flowers, often with prominent yellow anthers in the centre of each flower.

Blossom flowers are short-lived and difficult to care for. They should not be used in arrangements that need to last more than 3 or 4 days.

Branches are usually supplied from gardens or old orchards close to the southern major city centres of Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney.

Types: Prunus, Chaenomeles, Azalea, Camellia

What to look for

• Buy branches with many coloured buds and partly open flowers;
• Avoid branches that drop flowers and leaves when shaken.

Flower Care

1. Keep cool at all times.
2. Strip leaves from the lower half of each stem.
3. Recut at least 2 cm off each branch and place in water immediately.
4. Do not bash or split stem ends.
5. Always use a preservative as this will help buds open.
6. Replace vase water with fresh preservative every day.
7. Take special care with Camellia flowers as they bruise (turn brown) when touched.

Interesting Facts about this Flower

Tea is made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis.
Japanese cherries (Prunus serrulata) produce spectacular blossoms in spring and are celebrated throughout Japan in the Hanami Festival.
Japonica is more correctly called the flowering quince, as this popular garden plant is C. x superba, not C. japonica.

Botanical Name: Prunus, Chaenomeles, Azalea, Camellia

Common Names: Azalea, Camellia., cherry, crab-apple blossom; Chaenomeles: Japonica, Flowering Quince, Prunus: apple

Stem Length: 30 to 60 cm

Country of Origin: North America, Europe, Japan, China

Available Colours: Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, White, Yellow

Season: Winter, Spring

Availability: June, July, August, September, October, November