President's Monthly Message

April 2026  

Dear Members and Friends,

I am pleased to share this Monthly News highlighting recent developments and notable achievements within our global camellia community. It is encouraging to witness the dedication of our members, the preservation of historic cultivars, and the continued exchange of knowledge across regions. I hope this update will further strengthen our connections and inspire participation in forthcoming activities.

Your thoughts and feedback are always most welcome. Please feel free to contact me directly at gianmario.motta@unipv.it.

With our best wishes,

Prof. Gianmario Motta President, International Camellia Society
Anke Koschitz Secretary, International Camellia Society

President's Medal Award

The International Camellia Society is delighted to announce that Mr. Sueo Takano has been awarded the President’s Medal in recognition of his commitment to the International Camellia Register and to the ICS book on sasanquas, of which the second edition will be published in December 2026.

Mr. Takano has continuously enriched the Register with many thousands of pictures, contributing significantly to the dissemination of camellia knowledge. We particularly appreciated his pictures which not only are scientifically perfect but also wonderful portraits. The Society congratulates him on this well-deserved honour.

ICS Website — News and Events Calendar

Since end of March, the News and Events Calendar on the ICS website is regularly updated with regional activities.

Members are invited to use this resource to stay informed about flowering shows, meetings, conventions, and other camellia-related events taking place in their respective countries and regions. We encourage all regional representatives to share their dates and announcements to ensure broad international visibility.

International Camellia Society Cup — RHS Early Camellia Show

The ICS U.K. region has generously donated the International Camellia Society Cup, which was awarded at the RHS Early Camellia Show at RHS Rosemoor.

The prestigious prize was won by the Garden of Excellence Trewithen, presenting a collection of twelve camellias. The Society extends its sincere congratulations on this outstanding achievement.

Rediscovery of Historic Cultivar in Australia

The ARC Australia has reported the rediscovery of the significant historic cultivar ‘Grandiflora Rosea of Belgium’ at Vaucluse House. Previously considered lost, this camellia represents an important addition to the preservation of historic varieties.

As in the case of the recently rediscovered cultivar ‘Queen Victoria’, the International Camellia Society may play a valuable role in supporting the global propagation and distribution of this remarkable camellia.

Opening of Tsubaki Yama

On 27 November 2025, Tsubaki Yama (“Camellia Mountain”) was officially opened at the Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens (Mt Tomah, NSW). The garden features a remarkable and growing collection of rare camellias, many sourced or donated by the Camellia Association of Australia.

Supported by key contributors and donors, Tsubaki Yama is set to become an important global repository for rare camellia cultivars.

News from Portugal

João Forjaz Sampaio continues his long-term work on preserving historic camellias at the Azores. Over the past 12 years, around 400 old cultivars have been collected and propagated from historic gardens and estates, supported by forestry experts and ongoing research into historical identification.

In parallel, a new project is being developed on Madeira Island: the “Garden of Friendship” at Santo da Serra, a 9-hectare site managed by the non-profit association ECOAMA. The garden, based entirely on donated plants, will feature thematic camellia plantings and aims to exceed 200 identified cultivars.

The first 140 cultivars were planted in early 2026, with further plantings planned for 2027–2028.

We thank all members and regional groups for their continued dedication to the conservation, study, and promotion of camellias worldwide.