Pillnitz camellia topless and ennobled again

After the end of the night frosts, the camellia in the park at Pillnitz Palace in Dresden is back in the fresh air. Despite the changeable weather, the mobile shelter that surrounds the 250-year-old plant in winter has been rolled away. On this occasion, it was ennobled by the International Camellia Society (ICS) with the title "Historic Camellia". According to the press release, this also recognizes the centuries of horticultural expertise in Pillnitz and the unique camellia house.

The Committee for the Preservation of Historic Camellias found that the Pillnitz specimen was so perfect that it need not fear comparison with the most beautiful trees in Asia. And the opportunity to view the camellia from above during its flowering period, despite its size, is unique as far as she knows. The "grande dame" of the Pillnitz Palace Park is now virtually in the world's best list of old native camellia trees from Asia.

Camellia cared for by Pillnitz gardeners for over 200 years

"Her current size, shape and wonderful bloom are the result of
outstanding achievements by the Pillnitz gardening team over several generations," said Christian Striefler. It is a magnet for visitors and one of the most important attractions in the park.

The Pillnitz camellia was planted in 1801, first protected with straw and bast mats and later with heatable wooden houses. Since 1992, it has had a movable house with a climate computer in which it hibernates and sprouts unscented flowers in spring. The 13-metre-high, 54-tonne glass and steel construction protects the nine-metre-high and eleven-metre-wide plant from frost at a constant internal temperature of 4 to 6 degrees Celsius.