麻豆社

This tall shrub, planted by the Valdosta Camellia Club in 2010, is the last of the three camellia species featured along the trail. Named for the reticulate (or netted) venation pattern in its leaves, C. reticulata is not as visually appealing in the landscape as C. japonica or C. sasanqua, as it tends to grow quite tall, but its stunning blooms more than make up for its less desirable vegetative form. The flowers are large and showy, with some reaching up to 11 inches in diameter. Because C. reticulata blooms open later than the other species, typically in early spring, many growers apply a plant hormone called gibberellic acid to the base of the flower bud to extend its flowering season. While C. reticulata is more challenging to establish and less cold-tolerant than C. sasanqua and C. japonica, the superior blooms are well worth the extra effort.