Park of Pena recognised as a Camellia Garden of Excellence

The International Camellia Society (ICS) has once again awarded the Park of Pena the title of Camellia Garden of Excellence. The park thus remains on the exclusive list of around 60 gardens worldwide to hold this prestigious quality mark. In Portugal, only three other gardens have received the ICS certificate: the Porto Botanical Garden, Park Terra Nostra, and Quinta de Curvos.

The renewal of the Camellia Garden of Excellence certificate recognises the ongoing work carried out by Parques de Sintra in the Park of Pena since 2009, involving the study, cataloguing, classification, restoration, and enrichment of what is considered the most important camellia collection in southern Portugal. Initiated by King Ferdinand II in the 19th century, the collection currently includes 3,858 mature specimens, of which 441 have been identified by the cultivar names assigned in the 19th century. The park is home to at least 211 cultivars of Camellia japonica, 9 cultivars of Camellia sasanqua, 1 cultivar of Camellia reticulata, and 50 other species, cultivars, and hybrids. The camellias are mainly concentrated in four areas: the Garden of Camellias, Queen Amelia’s Garden, the Countess of Edla’s Garden, and the Tea Hill.

The International Camellia Society, chaired by Gianmario Motta, is a non-profit international organisation with around 2,000 members. It promotes the research, cultivation, and development of camellias through various initiatives. Camellia Gardens of Excellence serve as ambassadors for the society across the globe, recognised as spaces where a passion for this botanical species, along with its study and conservation, is actively fostered. The renewal of the Garden of Excellence certificate takes place every ten years and depends on an evaluation of the collection’s conservation status.