MOUNT TOMAH’S PERFECT TIMING

THE TEAM AT THE BLUE MOUNTAINS BOTANIC GARDEN IS STARTING WORK ON A NEW ATTRACTION WITH AN EYE TO THE FUTURE AND NOD TO THE PAST. SENIOR HORTICULTURIST MARION WHITEHEAD REPORTS.

At the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden it sometimes feels that things happen just at the right time. It could be the winter snow deciding not to fall until all the team arrive safely on site (and melting in time for us to return home) or the 2019 bushfires stopping only a few meters from the oldest stand of Wollemi Pines in cultivation. It seems only apt, therefore, that we are now preparing to break ground on our very own camellia garden – exactly 200 years after the first planting of a camellia at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.

When completed, the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden’s Camellia Garden will offer historical and rare camellias, collections best suited to the cool climes of Mount Tomah, and Theaceae family plants that have fascinating stories to tell. And it will be set in a landscape designed to quiet the mind and help visitors find small moments of serenity and reflection. It will also be a space that brings together the upper and lower sections of the northern face of the mountain. Visitors will follow a gently winding path – entered from below our Residence Garden – into a new world beneath the existing canopy of eucalypts and historical plantings. In winter, the slope above the garden will offer a unique view of the riotous colours and massive blooms of the Camellia reticulata overstorey from above, drawing visitors down the hill into this camellia haven. The canopy will also feature rare and delicate Theaceae trees including Franklinia alatamaha, Schima superba, Polyspora longicarpa and Stewartia pteropetiolata

In the depths of the garden will be small corners where moss grows amongst the trachyte paving, and camellia flowers and acer leaves float, suspended on the surface of water-filled stone reflecting bowls. These small retreats will be constructed to conjure many of the emotions of which camellias are symbolic – including quiet strength, devotion, and new life emerging from the darkness. Flanking the path will be a tapestry of camellias, their pure white and blush pink petals offering a respite from the dreary winter days, and their deep green, shiny foliage offering salubrious surroundings for the rest of the year. Having amassed a collection of Theaceae family plants (camellias in particular) over the past five years, we have endeavoured to curate the collection in a way that will make the Camellia Garden unique. Following are some of the plants visitors will encounter.

Camellia reticulata

Sometimes referred to as the ”king of camellias” due to its large, showy blooms and striking appearance, Camellia reticulata has a long history of cultivation in East Asia. In ancient China it was highly prized for its ornamental value and used in traditional medicine. It was also cultivated by Chinese aristocracy as a symbol of wealth and status. During the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), C. reticulata began to be exported to Japan, where it was further cultivated and developed into new varieties. It was then introduced to Europe in the 19th century, where it quickly became popular. The Camellia Garden will showcase the oldest and newest incarnations of this wondrous plant and include a range of the most beautiful and rare forms available in Australia. It is unusual to see a large collection of C. reticulata outside of private gardens in Australia, making Mount Tomah a unique camellia destination.

Higo camellias

Inextricably linked to the samurai of Japan’s Higo Province, Higo camellias were first cultivated during the Edo period (1603-1868) and became a symbol of beauty and refinement. The samurai were skilled warriors, but they also appreciated the finer arts, including horticulture, and took great care in cultivating camellias in their personal gardens, breeding exquisite blooms to please their shogun. From this practice, a tradition emerged where a deceased relative's favourite camellia was planted in the family cemetery as a sign of respect. During the Meiji Restoration (1868–1912), samurai leaders in Kumamoto Prefecture used the Higo camellia as a symbol of their resistance against the new Meiji government. Higo flowers are characterised by their often triangular shaped, flat- to saucer-shaped blooms with large, perfectly symmetrical stamen clusters.

Franklinia alatamaha

Native to the southeastern United States, this small deciduous tree was discovered in 1765 along the banks of Georgia’s Altamaha River by botanist John Bartram, who named it in honour of his friend Benjamin Franklin. The significance of Franklinia alatamaha lies in its status as a ”living fossil”, believed to be a North American glacial relict. By the early 19th century it was thought to be extinct in the wild, however, Bartram had cultivated seeds in his garden in Philadelphia and today all Franklinia trees in cultivation are descendants of those trees. Franklinia alatamaha is significant because it is the only species in its genus and is not closely related to any other living plant species. This makes it a valuable genetic resource for research and conservation. It’s also beautiful, with white, fragrant blooms and colourful autumn foliage.

Schima superba

Native to Southeast Asia, Schima superba is highly valued for its beauty, as well as its many practical uses. In traditional Chinese medicine, the bark, leaves and flowers of the tree have been used for centuries to treat a variety of ailments including coughs, fevers and digestive issues. Schima superba is facing numerous threats, including deforestation, habitat loss and overharvesting for its wood and medicinal properties.

Stewartia pteropetiolata

A stunning tree species, highly valued for its ornamental qualities, this native of Japan is loved for its gorgeous blooms, striking foliage and unique branching structure. Its large, showy white blooms – reminiscent of camellias, with a delicate, almost ethereal quality – appear in early summer. In Japan, the tree is highly valued for its wood, which is used to create a variety of objects, including furniture, musical instruments and even tea ceremony utensils. It is also believed to have spiritual significance and is often planted in temple gardens.