Page 9 - LandscapeSA_117

FEATURE

CAMELLIA GARDEN OF EXCELLENCE

Winter is prime time to view the striking pink, red and white blooms of Africa’s only
International Camellia Garden of Excellence, situated at Vergelegen Wine Estate, a

322-year-old provincial heritage site in Somerset West, Cape Town.

t is home to one of only 39 Camellia
Gardens of Excellence in the world.
IVergelegen’s camellia garden and
Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens are the
only two camellia gardens in the southern
hemisphere that enjoy this recognition.

“Winter is the best time to view
these beautiful blooms against their
striking green foliage,” said Vergelegen
horticulturist Richard Arm. “We have
over 1000 camellia bushes at the estate,
comprising about 550 cultivars from as
far afield as France, Japan, America and
South Africa.”
Some of the most beautiful and rare
specimens include Laurian Brown from
South Africa, Tama Electra from Japan,
Francie L and Anticipation from New
Zealand and Grace Albritton, Tiffany and
Lasca Beauty from the USA. Vergelegen’s camellia collection includes many beautiful blooms

The camellia gardens will be blooming until
early spring and the shrubs can be viewed
in the following three areas:
• at the bottom of the Great Lawn in front
of the homestead, near the estate’s Café
Fleur restaurant;
• along a meandering path beside the
Lourens River; and
• through the yellowwood forest.

Vergelegen was named an International
Camellia Garden of Excellence in 2010 by
the International Camellia Society, a non-
profit organisation founded in 1962. The
estate’s inclusion on the list was renewed
during 2020 for another ten years.

Camellias were first planted at Vergelegen in
the 1920s by owner Lady Florence Phillips.
The later Barlow era camellia plantings
consist of classic Camellia japonica cultivars,
most of which are now large, mature shrubs
up to five metres high. Another part of Winter is the best time to visit Vergelegen’s International Camellia Garden of Excellence.
the collection was established from 1995
onwards with camellia plant donations to
the estate. Visitors can stroll through the camellia from the wine tasting centre at Vergelegen
gardens at their own pace or book for the at 09h30. The duration is approximately
Vergelegen’s exquisite gardens cover ten daily garden and heritage walking tour. This one hour, maximum 20 people. To book
hectares, within a cultural heritage area includes the camellias and other plantings, phone 021 847 2122.
spanning 60 hectares. In addition, a 54 significant trees, the restored homestead
hectare arboretum is being developed, and historic library. Text and photos supplied by Meropa
with plans to plant about 7500 trees over Communications on behalf of Vergelegen
ten years. The tour costs R50 per person and departs Wine Estate. n

Find out more about the gardens: https://vergelegen.co.za/gardens/ and info@vergelegen.co.za.
n

Landscape SA • Issue 117 2022 7