Winter is the dormant season, but it doesn't have to be drab and dull. Along with our prize-winning camellias, Loch Laurel Nursery carries a new line of winter-blooming companion plants, specially selected for gardens in Camellia planting zones.

Be sure to check out our exclusive line of Cold-Hardy Door Yard Citrus that is perfect for North Florida and South Georgia.

Kniphophia - Christmas Cheer, also known as Red Hot Poker or TorchLily is a native of South Africa and a perennial showstopper. Sun-loving blooms rise three feet from their base, which grows three to four feet wide. These beauties are extremely cold-tolerant and this variety, introduced by the Huntington Botanic Garden, is unique for its fall and winter bloom period.

Lespedeza liukiuensis - Little Volcano.  Our beautiful plants are
direct descendents of this plant growing in the Ryuku Islands of Japan. This beautiful shrub with a graceful weeping shape is filled with plum pink blossoms late summer through fall. After bloom, deciduous foliage turns golden as can be seen in the photo on the right.

Magnolia - Pink Goblet. One of the first signs that spring is nearis the emergence of the Japanese Magnolias. This beautiful specimen has luscious, mid-season rose pink blooms with white inside, ten to eleven inches diameter. The tree grows from fifteen to thirty feet in full sun or partial shade with dark green summer foliage.

Chapman's Wonder Rhododendron (R. minus var chapmanii x R. dauricum). An early blooming true rhododendron with lavender pink flowers similar to P. J. M. grown in northern areas. Growth rate is rapid and very heat tolerant growing well in south Georgia (USDA Zone 8b). See photo here.

Paperbush Plant, Edgeworthis chrysantha - This member of the Daphne family is better suited to warmer areas of the coastal south compared to the more familiar Daphne odorata. The plumeria like foliage on a 8' tall x 8' wide umbrella-shaped clump, gives the garden a very tropical look. The foliage drops in mid-December to reveal the large pendulous flower buds. The flower buds open steadily from mid-January to mid-March, producing a fantastic display of golden yellow flowers that are fragrant. A great companion plant for camellias to provide fragrance in the winter garden. See photo here.

Mule Palm (Butia capitata X Syagrus romanzoffiania) This hybrid palm crossed between the pindo and queen palms is one of the most cold hardy pinnate-leaf palms surviving temperatures as low as 14oF. They provide a tropical look to the landscape or a pool area growing from 20 -30 ft. in height. By far the most beautiful cold-hardy palm available today. See photo here.

Temple Bells Pieris (Pieris ryukyuensis) - Also known as the "Lilly of the Valley" shrub. Large drooping dense clusters of creamy-white bell shaped blooms are borne in early spring covering this small evergreen shrub. The blooms are soon followed by the reddish new growth. An excellent accent and camellia companion plant. The best Pieris for southern climates. See photo here.

Don Egolf Chinese Redbud (Cercis chinensis 'Don Egolf') a multi-stemmed shrub to 10 feet covered all along the upright stems with bright pink flowers in early spring before the leaves reappear. Flowers are sterile and produce no seed pods. The flowers are so prolific you can hardly see the trunk and limbs for the flowers. Glossy green heart shaped leaves in summer. See photo here.

Native Azaleas (Rhododendron austrinum and hybrids) - Yellow and orange fragrant flowers appear before the leaves in spring and provide a glowing display in the garden. Plants are grown from cuttings or seed from superior selections with large flower clusters.

Eucalyptus amplifolia A beautiful large growing eucalyptus to 100 ft with evergreen apple-green leaves. Trees grow tall and slender and provide the perfect dappled shade for camellias where it can be grown in USDA Zone 8b. Provides a good substitute for pines with deep non-competing roots. A great tree primarily used in forest plantations for pulp and biofuel. Used in Australia for honey production.See photo here.