the camellia journal

Editor 

A study of 602 randomly selected households in the five-parish area of Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, Plaquemines, and St. Tammany, was conducted by John and Stephanie Grimm between March 18th and April 1st, 2005. Respondents were asked: 

Do you own/grow camellias? 

Fifteen percent (15%) of households in the area own/grow camellias. Geographically there were significant differences, with households in St. Tammany doing so at significantly higher levels than the other parishes – 40% vs. 14% for Jefferson, 10% for St. Bernard, and 6% each for the remaining parishes. Comparatively, when asked do you own or grow roses, 29% reported in the affirmative. The geographic distribution was more uniform, with St. Tammany in the lead, but equaled by St. Bernard at 34%, with Jefferson at 32%, Orleans at 23%, and Plaquemines at 18%. 

Differences between those owning/growing each plant 

• While 43% of all camellia people lived in St. Tammany, only 19% of rose people lived in St. Tammany. Thirty-six (36%) percent of camellians were found in Jefferson and 17% in Orleans Parishes vs. 41% and 32%, respectively, for rosarians. 
• Camellia people tended to be somewhat older – 54% were 55 years of age plus vs. 50% of rose people with only 6% of camellians under 35 vs. 13% for the rosarians. 
• Camellians had more education, with 43% attaining college or more education vs. only 24% of the rosarians; 7% of camellians had less than high school education (probably a function of age) vs. 12% for rosarians. 
• Nearly two-thirds (63%) of camellia people were retired or unemployed; only 50% of rose people fell into these categories. 
• Camellia people had household incomes of $60,000 (42%) and over vs. 32% for rose people. Seventeen percent (17%) of camellia people refused to give their incomes vs. 10% of rose people; those who refuse are usually in the higher income brackets, suggesting even a bigger differential. 
• Camellia people tended to include far more Caucasians compared to the area overall and rose people – 83% vs. 59% overall and 67% for rose people; 8% of camellia people are Afro-American vs. 25% for rose growers. Other racial groups were similar among both groups. 
• Gender revealed slight differences, with 42% of males reporting owning/growing camellias vs. 47% for roses. As the data was gathered for households, gender is not really valuable; with 47% of the target area male vs. 53% female, the camellia target market was only slightly more female. 
• One-third (32%) of rose people also had camellias; however, 63% of camellia people also had roses. 

CONCLUSIONS – With over 450,000 households in the five-parish area, camellias are present in between 65,000 and 71,000 of them. Even excluding the St. Tammany area, approximately 25,000 to 35,000 households in the remaining four parishes have camellias. Clearly, the camellia clubs have not penetrated the market for either show attendance or membership to any significant degree. There is real “GIGANTEA” potential!!! 

More young people need to be exposed to camellias. Low cost entry level options need to be created for camellias. Kids growing camellias from the huge number of Sasanqua seeds that can be gathered (as well as Japonicas) could be a start. Start them young and they can watch it grow and bloom (and learn patience is rewarded) or children of show attendees could all be given a rooted cutting to grow (started by Club members from spring pruning). 

Roses can be purchased for $1 on sale and certainly less than $5 at Home Depot, Lowes, and WalMart. Camellias are far more expensive. Can starter kits of camellias be brought down in cost for targeted promotional efforts. While Japonicas and Reticulatas are preferred for shows and viewing, small, hardy Sasanquas need to be the entryway to the larger, frillier, more specialized plants. 

Some shows encourage anyone to enter blooms (even unnamed ones) and an award given to a special category of novice – children bringing in known or unknown varieties from their parent’s trees. Let’s get them excited early and open their minds about what could be out there – knowledge and beauty. 

Targeting the thousands of households with camellias is essential; we need a camellia inventory of sorts – identifying households with camellias. There are enough. Just think what a data base of 25,000 camellia households would mean (especially given their incomes and likelihood of having e-mail as a method of communication – cheap and fast). 

LOTS OF POTENTIAL. The camellia can challenge the rose – St. Tammany proves it.