Plants

Camellia oleifera, also known as the tea oil camellia or huangshan oil camellia, is native to southern China. It has been cultivated in China for over 2,500 years, primarily for its oil-rich seeds. Historically, the oil extracted from its seeds has been used in Chinese cooking, traditional medicine, for lighting lamps, and as a base … Read more

Camellia sinensis, commonly known as the tea plant, is native to East Asia, particularly the area around the juncture of Northeast India, North Burma, Southwest China, and Tibet. Its use in tea production likely started in China around 2737 BC during the reign of Emperor Shennong, according to legend. Common names include tea plant, tea … Read more

Camellia reticulata is native to southwestern China, particularly in Yunnan Province. It has been cultivated in China for centuries, originally for its beautiful flowers. Camellia reticulata was first introduced to the Western world in the early 19th century. However, it wasn’t until the 20th century that it became more widely known and cultivated outside China, … Read more

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