First ICS Awards for Significant Ancient and Historic Camellia Trees

The ICS Committee for Conservation of Historic Camellias is pleased to announce the first four of such awards under the recently approved Apoliu Declaration. Two awards are to specimens in China and two to specimens in Australia. These are:

• Significant Ancient Indigenous Camellia Tree to Camellia semiserrata ‘Guangning Honghua Youcha’ (NO. CN0001-0001-I-20191017), Paisha Township, Guangning County, Guangdong, China. The following significance is noted:
  • An ancient indigenous Chinese forest king Camellia approaching 400 years old (as from 2019);
  • An ancient representative of Chinese Camellia species and more widely of wild plants of China; and
  • As a precious botanical resource securing the future prosperity of Chinese Camellia oil industry and production.
• Significant Historic Ornamental Camellia Tree to Camellia japonica 'Da Hong Jin Xin' (NO. CN0002-0002-I-20191016), Qinghui Garden, Shunde, Foshan City, Guangdong, China. The following historical significance is noted:
  • An ancient historic Camellia tree during the Qing Dynasty:
  • Representing a Tang Dynasty Camellia cultivar; and
  • Representative successor to an earlier Ming Dynasty planting in Qinghui Garden by national first place scholar Huang Shijun.
• Significant Historic Ornamental Tree to Camellia japonica ‘Cassandra’ of Lisgar Gardens, Hornsby NSW Australia (NO. AU0001-0005-I-20200304). The following historical significance is noted:
  • Best surviving specimen of rare historical cultivar of early New South Wales colonial era, tree age over 75 years;
    Cultivar was listed by Sir William Macarthur in Australian Botanical & Horticultural Gazette in 1849;
  • Being one of the original Camden Park Camellia cultivars, it is more broadly representative of colonial NSW garden heritage; and as
  • A cultivar featured in an international camellia stamp collection released in the Azores Portugal, marking an International Camellia Society seminar conducted in 2015.
• Significant Historic Ornamental Tree Collection of a remnant of 8 specimens at Eryldene, Gordon NSW Australia, developed and planted by Founding ICS President Professor E, G. Waterhouse (NO. AU0002-0006-C-20200304). The following historical significance is noted:
  • This collection includes original specimens of Camellia japonica ‘Janet Waterhouse’ (1952), Camellia japonica ‘Robin’ (1952), Camellia x williamsii ‘Lady Gowrie’ (1952), Camellia x williamsii ‘Margaret Waterhouse’ (1955), Camellia x williamsii ‘Charles Colbert’ (1959), one potted specimen of Camellia x williamsii ‘Lady’s Maid’ (1962), and two specimens of Camellia sasanqua ‘Mignonne’ (1979);
  • Horticultural collection representing the pioneering horticultural work of an ICS Founder (and Founding President);
  • Horticultural collection also linked to the revival of camellia interest in Australia during the mid 20th century; and
  • Contribution to mid 20th century NSW garden heritage.

Hopefully, more awards will be announced in 2021. Nominations can be made from across the world through local ICS Directors.