Plant of the month, February

Between 1928 and 1932 J.C.Williams of Caerhays set up a syndicate of 5 gardens, Caerhays, Lanarth, Werrington, Trengwainton and Trewithen, to sponsor the great plant hunter George Forrest on his expedition to SW China. George collected seed of, amongst many others, Camellia saluenensis. J.C gave some of the seed to Colonel Stephenson Clarke at Borde Hill. There the first ever intergeneric cross of Camellia japonica and Camellia saluenensis took place. The seedlings were named Camellia 'Donation' and plants given to J.C. He gave George Johnstone, of Trewithen, a plant which still flowers here today,