President's Monthly Message
October 2026
The new Sasanqua book is to be printed
We have finalized the book with the Shanghai Botanical Garden, which is kindly coordinating, editing, and printing it. We plan to have the book printed by December 2026 and ship it to the ICS Congress in the USA.
I edited this new book to create a complete encyclopedia of sasanqua, thus substantially extending the previous 2023 edition. The new book contains a gallery of over 500 cultivars and covers all aspects of sasanquas. A chapter on the origin and classification of sasanquas, authored by Professor Tanaka, explains how the over 1,000 cultivars have been created from the wild sasanqua through multi-stage hybridization. The subsequent section is a gallery of over 500 cultivars, whose pictures were provided by ICS members throughout the world, particularly by S. Takano for Japan. Finally, further sections address the cultivation, the history, and the gardens of sasanqua. The book was made possible by the collaboration of ICS members throughout the world, especially C. Bell (Great Britain), F. Delvaux (Benelux), A. Koschitz (Germany), F. Latta (USA), D. Muir (New Zealand), C. Salinero and P. Vela (Spain), T. Tanaka and S. Takano (Japan), S. Utick and J. Robb (Australia), P. Vieu (France), Z. Wang (China).
An extract from the book will be published in the ICJ.
Shanghai Symposium on Sasanquas postponed
To optimize participation and avoid conflicts with the ICS Congress in the USA, we decided, together with Shanghai Botanical Garden, to postpone the symposium to the year 2027, from December 1st to 4th. The contents are unchanged.
Camellia reticulata Conservation and Development
Professor Wang, Vice President Asia, and Power Red, a Chinese company, organized a one-day meeting on the Conservation and Sustainable Development of Camellia reticulata. The meeting was held in Tengchong, Yunnan (Southwest China), which features large, spectacular forests of wild C. reticulata with ancient plants (up to 300 years old). Let me underline that C. reticulata features the largest and showiest camellia blooms, and its natural varieties (e.g. 'Cornelian' / 'Damano') and hybrids (e.g. 'Dr. Clifford Parks') are very popular in the USA.
Group photo Tengchong
We learned that Yunnan is implementing a structured action for the conservation of the wild species by large plantations in-situ. Furthermore, C. reticulata has important industrial usages, for dietary and cosmetic oil (thanks to its apple-sized fruits) and for natural scents extracted from its flowers. This cosmetic use of C. reticulata is the aim of Power Red, similar to Coco Chanel, which instead addresses C. japonica. Industrial usage of ornamental camellias will grow, in parallel with the cultivation for tea of C. sinensis and C. nitidissima. Actually, ornamental camellias are completely anallergic and will be a base for natural and sustainable development in the cosmetic industry.
The blooming season of C. reticulata in Yunnan is from December to early March. You can see many thousands of camellia plants in bloom, a spectacular show that resembles the R. arboreum forests in Nepal. Vice President Wang can advise you on planning a trip there.
President Prof. Motta, wild C. reticulata
ICS Congress - A Message from F. Latta, Vice President Americas
We are putting the finishing touches on plans for the next International Camellia Congress on January 26-30, 2027. Please note: the registration deadline is November 1, 2026. This 2027 Congress is being planned as much more than a series of meetings. It will combine education, gardens, camellia history, Southern hospitality, tours, food, and entertainment into what should be a very memorable camellia gathering to celebrate the ICS’ 65th Anniversary.
Registration for the Main Congress is $1,550/US per person based upon double occupancy, with a slightly higher charge for single occupancy. This is an all-inclusive package covering five hotel nights, most meals, tours and transportation. Pre- and Post-Congress Tours are priced separately. Details and registration information are available through the website: www.ICSCongress2027.com.
Three outstanding educational sessions will feature some of the world’s top experts. One program of particular interest will feature Dr. Brad King and Jim Nuccio, who will discuss the remarkable history of Nuccio’s Nurseries and the continuing effort to establish a collection of Nuccio introductions in a West Coast public garden. Few names in American camellia history carry greater significance than Nuccio’s. The opportunity to hear that story directly—and to recognize the Nuccio family’s extraordinary contribution to the camellia world—should be one of the highlights of the Congress.
There will also be plenty of entertainment. Macon is famous not only for horticulture but for music, and the Congress will celebrate that heritage. A particularly special guest will be Chuck Leavell, keyboardist and music director for the Rolling Stones and a musician whose career has also included the Allman Brothers Band. Away from the stage, Leavell owns an award-winning timber farm near Macon and has appeared in documentaries including The Tree Man. Perhaps by the end of the week we can make him a “camellia man” as well.
Your thoughts and feedback are most welcome. Please feel free to contact us.
Prof. Gianmario Motta gianmario.motta@unipv.it
President, International Camellia Society
Anke Koschitz
Secretary, International Camellia Society