Camellias at the  Missouri Botanical Garden Introduction Our Collection The Linnean House Indoor Camellias Hardy Camellias

Our Camellia Collection

The Garden’s historic Linnean House features over 50 different camellias, diverse in size, color, floral form, and history. Bloom begins in late fall, peaks in February, and extends into late March.

Some varieties in our collection have distinguished pasts in China or Japan, like C. japonica ‘Magnoliaeflora,’ which was grown in Japan as long ago as 1695. Others are old European favorites, such as the cultivar C. japonica ‘Elegans (Chandler),’ developed in the early 19th century in London’s first specialty camellia nursery.

Also look for the extremely rare yellow-flowering camellia, Camellia chrysantha, at the end of the northeast bed. It is one of the last camellias to flower, generally in bloom in March.

The display is often intensely fragrant, filled from fall through spring with the scent of the fragrant olive trees, Osmanthus fragrans, followed by several types of jasmines blooming from early to late spring.

Contrary to popular belief, most camellias have no scent, though the fall-blooming species does have a subtle fragrance.

Camellias at the Missouri Botanical Garden
Introduction      Our Collection      The Linnean House    Indoor Camellias      Hardy Camellias