Plants

Camellia sasanqua is native to the southern regions of Japan, including Kyushu, the Ryukyu Islands, and Shikoku. It was introduced to the Western world in 1820 by Captain Richard Rawes, when he brought a variety back to England. Later, in 1869, Dutch traders introduced it to Europe. The plant has been cultivated in Japan for … Read more

Camellia japonica, commonly known as the Japanese camellia, is native to Japan, Korea, and parts of China. It was first introduced to the West in the early 18th century by Georg Joseph Kamel (after whom the genus Camellia is named), although it was Engelbert Kaempfer who first described it from Japan. In Japan, the camellia … Read more

Camellia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae. They are found in tropical and subtropical areas in eastern and southern Asia, from the Himalayas east to Japan and Indonesia. There are more than 220 described species. Camellias are popular ornamental, tea, and woody-oil plants cultivated worldwide for centuries. Over 26,000 cultivars, with … Read more

Clematis ‘Ville de Lyon’ is a classic variety that has adorned gardens for over a century. It was bred by the French nurseryman François Morel, who introduced it around 1899. The cultivar was named after the French city of Lyon, a nod perhaps to the city’s significance in horticulture or simply as a tribute. This … Read more

Clematis texensis, commonly called scarlet leather flower, is a climbing vine in the buttercup family. It is native to the United States, where it is endemic to the Edwards Plateau of Texas. Its natural habitat is on rocky limestone cliffs and streamsides. This palnt was not well-known outside its native region until the late 19th … Read more

Clematis viticella, also known as Italian Clematis or Virgin’s Bower is native to Southern Europe, particularly the Mediterranean region, including Italy, from where it gets its common name. It thrives in the wild in regions with warm summers and mild winters. Clematis viticella was one of the earliest clematis species to be introduced into British … Read more

Clematis armandii, known commonly as Evergreen Clematis or Armand’s Clematis, is native to China and was first described by the French missionary and naturalist Père Armand David in the 19th century. It was introduced to Western gardens in the early 1900s by the famous plant collector Ernest Henry Wilson, who sent seeds back to England. … Read more

Clematis ‘Henryi’ is one of the classic large-flowered clematis hybrids. It was named after the German botanist and plant collector Augustine Henry, who was instrumental in bringing many plants from China to the Western world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. However, the cultivar ‘Henryi’ itself was bred by Isaac Anderson-Henry, a Scottish … Read more

The President’ was bred by Charles Noble, a renowned clematis grower, in Sunningdale, England. It was introduced to the gardening world around 1876. It was named in honor of the president of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) at the time, reflecting the high esteem in which this cultivar was held or perhaps as a mark … Read more

Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’ is one of the most famous and enduringly popular clematis cultivars. It was bred by Moser in France in 1897. This hybrid was named after the wife or daughter of the breeder, which was a common practice at the time. ‘Nelly Moser’ quickly became favored for its unique and large flowers, making … Read more