Study Day: CAMELLIA at White House Farm

This is a special opportunity to look in depth at the remarkable collection of Camellia gathered together by Maurice Foster at White House Farm. While the garden is home to a representative assortment of more than one hundred cultivars and hybrids, what makes this collection truly unique is the additional forty plus species successfully cultivated outside in woodland conditions.

Many of them have turned out to be much hardier than expected and excellent garden plants, worth growing for flower, but also their attractive foliage and elegant form. There is so much more to the genus than C. japonica: the varied collection at White House Farm will likely have you reconsider a genus with which we think we are familiar.

Cut specimens of plants from the collection will be displayed in vases for examination and discussion: participants are encouraged to bring the same from their own gardens if of special interest or for possible identification if unknown.

ITINERARY

Arrive at 9.30 for a 10am start.

10.00
Maurice Foster: introduction to the day, overview of the camellia genus with an emphasis on the best wild-collected species at WHF.

10.20
Jack Aldridge: a look at new/lesser-known hybrids and the influence of species in Section Theopsis.

10.40 
Rod White: a review of the most effective cultivars of C. reticulata and their garden use, with particular regard to hardiness and best practice for cultivation

11.00 – divide into 2 groups, for tours with WHF experts

Group 1 - Species in wood

Group 2 - Cultivars in garden

13.00 to 14.00 LUNCH

14.00

Group 1 - Cultivars in garden

Group 2 - Species in wood

16.00 - TEA and discussion or observation of the day by participants

17.00 Depart.