W inter 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.

Kniphophia - Christmas Cheer, also known as Red Hot Poker or Torch Lily 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 near is 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.

Fried Egg Tree Gordonia axillaris - An evergreen tree with a height and spread of 10-15 feet. It has dark, glossy, green leaves and creamy-white flowers with crimped petals and golden stamens. Gordonias belong to the Theaceae, or tea family, and the flowers resemble those of the closely related camellia. However, gordonia flowers do not go brown on the plant. Instead, they drop off and land on the ground with the stamens facing upwards, resembling a carpet of 'fried eggs'.

Door Yard Citrus - Many gardners are not aware of the wonderful citrus that can be grown in North Florida and South Georgia. Loch Laurel Nursery is proud to offer varieties that are cold hardy and produce tasty fruit you would assume could only be grown in semi-tropical climates. In fact, most of our varieties are well-suited to our region and will not grow well in Central Florida.

Satsumas - Mandarine Orange, The fruit is easily peeled and contains loose segments that are easily separated. They are sweet and a bright orange color when ripe and nearly seedless. Satsumas are believed to be native to southern China and are widely grown along the gulf coast of the US. Satsuma trees grow 10 to 15 feet tall. Fruit ripens in mid to late November. Hardy to 20°F. Varieties: Owari, Brown Select and Silverhill.

Sunquat (X Citrofortunella sp.) - This citrus is a hybrid between F. crassifolia (Meiwa kumquat) and C. reticulata (tangerine). It grows 8 to 10 feet tall and bears oblong fruit that is larger than a kumquat and sweeter with an edible peel. Hardy to mid 20's. Will rapidly grow back if killed back.

Keraji Mandarine - produces 2-inch fruit too small for commercial production but an excellent dooryard fruit. Fruit has a sweet lemonade taste unlike any other citrus fruit. Peel is easy to remove. Tree is very cold-hardy surviving short dips into the upper teens.

Hong Kong Kumquat - Fruit is bitter and used primarily as an ornamental, turing a bright orange during the Christmas season. Great container plant. Hardy to upper teens.

Meyer Lemon - produces good quality lemons on rapidly growing trees. This variety is sought after by chefs for it's unique flavor and often specified in gourmet recipies. Meyers thrive along coastal areas of southeast including south Georgia and north Florida.

Citrus taiwananica - this rare tree grows to about 10 feet tall. It is spiny and bears sour, tangerine-like fruit. Juice can be used as a substitute for lemon juice. It is native to Taiwan. Hardy to low 20's

Poncirus trifoliata var. monstrosa ‘Flying Dragon’ Contorted Trifoliate Orange - This cultivar has unusual contorted branches and claw-like spines. Used as rootstock to dwarf citrus.