President's Monthly Message

February 2026  

I am pleased to share this Monthly News on ICS developments and activities, highlighting camellia-related events and initiatives from several regions. I hope this update will further strengthen our links and support the exchange of knowledge within our Society. Your thoughts and feedback are, as always, most welcome. Please feel free to send your message directly to gianmario.motta@unipv.it.

With my best wishes,

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

Camellias in the Czech Republic

This contribution was kindly sent by Hana Rozlivková (Brno), a new ICS member, as feedback to our first Monthly Newsletter. We were delighted to receive her message and are pleased to share her report with our members. We plan to publish the full article in the next  journal.

Although camellias do not grow naturally in the Czech Republic, the country has a strong historical link to the genus, named by Carl von Linné after the Czech-born Jesuit and naturalist Georg Joseph Kamel (1661–1706). Ornamental camellias were introduced in the 18th century and became prized plants in castle orangeries.

Today, several remarkable historic collections can be found in the Czech Republic. Liberec Botanical Garden hosts camellias over 200 years old, among the oldest in Europe, with a collection of 34 plants. The exhibition “Camellias & Fragile Beauty on Excursions” will take place from February 14 to March 8, 2026.

The Lysice Castle Orangery preserves six camellia trees approximately 120 years old, up to five meters tall, and will be open during Saint Valentine’s Days of Camellias on February 14–15 and February 21–22, 2026.

At Rájec nad Svitavou Castle, the largest camellia collection in the country includes around 1,500 plants, with approximately 150 classic cultivars and 200 newer varieties. The exhibition “Camellias in the Age of Industrialists” will be held from March 6 to March 15, 2026.

Despite challenging climatic conditions, renewed interest and frost-resistant cultivars continue to strengthen camellia cultivation in Czech botanical gardens and historic estates.

News from Our Regions

United States

The annual meeting of the American Camellia Society will take place in Charleston, South Carolina on February 19–22, 2026, including visits to Middleton Place Plantation and Magnolia Gardens.

Benelux

ICS Benelux members will visit the GOE Flora in Cologne/Germany on February 28, with a guided tour at 11:00 a.m. (meeting point: main entrance). Other ICS members are welcome to join.

Portugal 

Camellia exhibitions on:

• February 21–22: Guimarães and Lousada

• February 28 and March 1: São Miguel and Sintra

Germany / Austria

Camellia exhibitions on:

• February 28 and March 1: Camellia show at GOE Luisenpark, Mannheim. During the Snowdrop Days, camellias will be presented and offered for sale. ICS members will provide information and advice on camellias.   

France

Camellia exhibitions on:

• March 28–29: Camellia exhibition in Guingamp

Italy 

Camellia exhibitions on:

• February 21–22 – XVIII Camellia Exhibition – Sorrento
Location: Cloister of San Francesco (Via San Francesco 12), Sorrento (NA)
Opening ceremony: Saturday, February 21 at 11:00 a.m.
  Organized by the Garden Club Penisola Sorrentina and the Italian Camellia Society, under the patronage of the Municipality of Sorrento. Welcome reception and musical performances by the Liceo Artistico F. Grandi of Sorrento.
  Opening hours: 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.

  Exhibition of cut camellia flowers from gardens of the Sorrento Coast, and display of camellia plants from the nursery Le Camelie del Generale (Enrico Scianca, Velletri, Rome).
  Information: Aldo Antonio Cobianchi, Campania Delegate, Italian Camellia Society
• February 21 – April 5: Guided visits to the historic camellia collection at Villa Durazzo 
  Pallavicini (Genoa), Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

Spain

Camellia exhibitions on:

• February 14–15: XIX Gala da Camelia no Camiño, Pontevedra

• February 28 – March 1: XXIV Certame da Camelia, Soutomaior (Pontevedra)

United Kingdom

The ICS U.K. region has made two significant donations to establish or enhance two gardens in the north of England, not traditionally considered a good place to grow camellias.  Our donations cover supplies of camellias, as well as contributions toward preparing the ground for the camellias.  One, in Keswick, is a totally new garden, now being planned by enthusiastic volunteers in the town.  The other is at Wentworth Woodhouse, where an early-19th century glasshouse planted with historic camellias, will be joined by a large new collection. Wentworth Woodhouse is near Wentworth Castle, home of a national collection of C. williamsii, but Woodhouse has only recently been recognized as a treasure trove of old camellias.  

Meanwhile, our ICS Secretary Anke Koschitz and ICS Past President Pat Short in February will be visiting Windsor Great Park, which is applying for approval as an ICS Garden of Excellence.   Anke and Pat will also be visiting Osterley House and Gardens, to see if the small collection of historic camellias is worthy of ICS recognition.  The Osterley camellias were the subject of an article in the 2016 International Camellia Journal.

Camellia identification will be the subject of a day’s outing on March 18 at Bicton Botanical Gardens, in Devon. Sponsored by the Southwest Branch of the Rhododendron, Camellia and Magnolia Group and led by ICS Director Caroline Bell and ICS member Jim Stephens, participants will work to identify the Bicton camellias, planted in the early 1900s, with an aim to labelling them. 

Australia

Camellia Ark Australia has begun propagating cuttings of the rediscovered historic camellia ‘Queen Victoria’, supporting its conservation and reintroduction. The rooted cuttings are expected to be shipped to Germany in May and will be distributed from there to various recipients.