The Pillnitz Camellia: A 220-Year-Old Beauty Revives in Dresden's Spring
Camelias Left Bare Once More, Now Elevated in Pillnitz - Noble Retreats Reinforced: Pillnitz Camellias Regain Strength and Stability
Celebrate the rebirth of spring as the ancient camellia at Pillnitz Castle's park in Dresden basks in the open air, braving the frosty mornings and fluctuating temperatures. Embracing the fading nights without frost, the Camellia in the heart of Pillnitz Palace Park has now disembarked from her winter sanctuary. This historic beauty was recently bestowed the title "Historical Camellia" by the International Camellia Society (ICS), acknowledging the centuries-long gardening prowess in Pillnitz and the one-of-a-kind camellia conservation facility.
The Camellia in Pillnitz is so immaculate that the camellia aficionados found it worthy to measure up to the most stunning blooms in Asia. This criterion also tallies up to the unique viewing opportunity of the camellia from an aerial perspective during its blooming phase, which, as far as the ICS knows, is unparalleled. Therefore, the venerable queen of Pillnitz Park now proudly stands among the world's elite ancient native camellia trees from Asia.
The camellia at Pillnitz had been tended by gardeners for well over 200 years, leading to its current size, stature, and supreme bloom, as stated by Christian Striefler. This unique botanical marvel is a magnet for visitors and one of the park's prime attractions.
Planted back in 1801, the Pillnitz camellia initially received protection from straw and Hessian mats, later graduating to heated wooden houses. Since 1992, it has been wrapped in a mobile greenhouse equipped with a climate computer, where it winters and produces its non-scented blooms in the spring. The 13-meter-tall and 54-ton glass-steel construction acts as an insulating blanket to maintain an internal temperature of 4 to 6 degrees Celsius, safeguarding the nine-meter-high and eleven-meter-wide plant from frost.
Spotlight on Dresden
- Delight in the verdant majesty of the Pillnitz Palace Park in the heart of Dresden.
Camellia Fun Facts:
- Known as the "Japanese camellia," the Pillnitz specimen is an example of Camellia japonica, a species native to parts of South and East Asia.
- The Pillnitz camellia is the oldest surviving example of its kind in Europe and is renowned for its age and beauty.
- The camellia, towering at approximately 9 meters high, can bloom up to 35,000 flowers from February to April.
- The camellia has been maintained by skilled gardeners over several generations, leading to its current impressive state.
- The camellia was initially protected by straw and Hessian mats before being moved inside heated wooden houses, and currently its protected by a movable greenhouse.
- The current shelter is a 13-meter-high, 54-ton glass and steel construction built in 1992, replacing a previous wooden heated house.
- The camellia has been recognized by the International Camellia Society with the title "Historic Camellia," acknowledging its historical significance and the expertise of the gardeners at Pillnitz.
- The camellia is a major attraction in the park, particularly during its blooming season, and draws many visitors.
The Community could organize special tournaments within Pillnitz Palace Park, showcasing the unique lifestyle and home-and-garden arrangements revolving around the conservation of the historic 'Camellia japonica'. In these events, participants could learn vocational training techniques for the cultivation and preservation of such ancient plants, much like the skilled gardeners who have nurtured the camellia for over 200 years.
