The camellias are blooming at the South Carolina Botanical Garden. From now until the late spring, our Camellia Garden will be a shifting tapestry of color as first the sasanquas (Camellia sasanqua) and then the camellias (Camellia japonica) are covered in flowers.
At the South Carolina Botanical Garden, camellias are very near and dear to our hearts. The SCBG was founded in the late 1950s when a camellia collection was moved to an abandoned cotton terrace that was the University’s trash dump. This collection became the heart of a garden founded by Clemson University horticultural professors and now is South Carolina’s State Botanical Garden.
Alba Plena Camellia (Camellia japonica ‘Alba Plena’). Sue Watts, ©2024, SC Botanical Garden, Clemson University
The Camellia Garden, located on the eastern bank of the duck pond, provides incredible winter interest from fall until well into the spring. All winter, shades of white, pink, and red splash the terraced hillside.
Camellias are, in fact, native to Asia, although they have been a staple of many southern gardens since the late 17th century. The first camellias were brought to South Carolina by explorer and nurseryman Andre Michaux, who established a botanic garden outside Charleston in 1786. That same year, Michaux gifted camellia specimens to Henry Middleton for his garden at Middleton Place. You can still see one of these original camellias, known as “Reine des Fleurs” or “Queen of Flowers” if you visit today.
I was surprised to learn that camellias were first sold as greenhouse plants, but this was in the north, where the climate is much harsher. In the south, they quickly found that this plant flourished outside in the warm southern climate. Camellias should be planted out of the full sun and protected from drying winds. They do well in our acidic soils, particularly where they are rich in organic material and receive plenty of water. At the SCBG, they planted the transplanted camellias under loblolly pines, which ultimately provided shade.
The diversity of camellias is astounding. There are over 2000 cultivars, with more being added every year.
The camellias are blooming at the South Carolina Botanical Garden, showcasing a tapestry of color from fall to late spring. Discover the fascinating history of camellias, their care requirements, and their enduring legacy in Southern gardens.
