Jinhua International Camellia Species Garden

　　The Jinhua International Camellia Species Garden was built over three years with the strong support of the Jinhua Municipal Government and various levels of leadership. It was officially founded on March 6, 1999, with the groundbreaking ceremony led by Ms. Pat Macdonald, former president of the International Camellia Society, and was undertaken by the Jinhua Forestry Bureau. It is the world’s first park-style specialized garden dedicated to the collection, preservation, cultivation, domestication, breeding, and utilization of original species of the genus Camellia. With a total investment of over 10 million yuan, the garden is located in the suburbs of Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province, which has been designated as the "Hometown of Camellias in China." It covers an area of nearly 10 hectares. To date, the garden has collected as many as 202 camellia species, encompassing 4 subgenera and 17 sections of the genus Camellia, accounting for 80% of the total named species. All these species have been sourced from their native habitats, ensuring their authenticity. The collection of camellia species in the garden will continue to be expanded and refined. The species are planted according to Professor Zhang Hongda’s taxonomic system of the genus Camellia, making the garden a living textbook of camellia classification. In addition, the garden also cultivates companion tree species of varying sizes and unique large-flowered camellia varieties. With its winding paths, lush green lawns, elegant pavilions, and murmuring streams, visitors can truly experience this as a sanctuary for the germplasm resources of the genus Camellia. The garden is committed to the cultivation and introduction of new camellia varieties, as well as the preservation of traditional ones, and houses over 1,000 different camellia varieties. These varieties feature uniquely colored flowers—some fiery red, others snow white or blush pink, along with black, purple, and yellow series. Flower sizes range from giant to miniature, with bloom shapes including peony-form, anemone-form, indented-form, and rose-form. Flowering periods vary from early, mid, to late season, and there are also fragrant, cold-resistant, foliage, hedge, and dwarf camellia series.

　　Source: Jinhua Government Website