The camellias of Caserta: botanical rarities, cultural histories, and landscape memory

Established in the late 18th century as both a landscape garden and a symbol of enlightened Bourbon monarchy, the English Garden of the Reggia di Caserta soon became a pioneering site for botanical collecting and experimentation with exotic plant species. Among these, the introduction of Camellia japonica stands out for its botanical, cultural, and political significance. The first specimen, planted in 1786 near the garden’s entrance, was a diplomatic gift from British ambassador Lord Willilam Hamilton to Queen Maria Carolina, intended to support the creation of the English-style garden. This original plant, known as the “mother camellia” (Camellia japonica var. rubra simplex), is still preserved as a historic stump and is listed among ltaly’s monumental trees. Over time, additional ancient camellia cultivars were cultivated near the royal greenhouses and later expanded into other areas of the park. Notable examples include those in the Castelluccia gardens, where one specimen was historically trained in the form of a pavilion-shaped “room”. Today, the camellia collection of Caserta comprises 73 living specimens, including many historically documented cultivars and a unique example of Camellia oleifera. A recent georeferenced census has allowed for renewed documentation and conservation planning reinforcing the site’s value as a living archive of botanical and landscape heritage.