The Aiken Camellia Show
written by Karyn Bland
A tradition remains in Aiken honoring the 'Queen of Flowers'- our beloved Camellia: The Aiken Camellia Show.
Experience the variety and history at this weekend’s Aiken Camellia Show where hundreds of colorful blooms inspire the attendees to add this beautiful plant to their own home garden, Saturday, January 18, 2025.
The Camellia is native to Southeastern Asia, where it was first cultivated thousands of years ago for the Southern beverage staple, tea. One variety, the Camellia Sinensis, provides the world’s tea even today.
Camellia Japonicas, however, are the most popular, boasting colorful and often complex blooms. This gardener’s Camellia was first brought into America through Charleston, South Carolina around the year 1786. French botanist and explorer André Michaux Michael went on to give camellias to Henry Middleton for the Charleston garden known today as Middleton Place.
Attending show is a great way to take in many varieties at once. Blooms range in size from miniature to very large, to meet your desired garden requirements. The camellia species offers varying bloom times from fall to early spring. The varieties count into the thousands and offer several colors and variegated combinations: red, white, pink, and yellow. Certain camellias stay relatively small and are slow-growing, while others are upright and vigorous enough to quickly fill a gap in the hedge, for example. Several camellias offer fragrance to add a romantic layer to the landscape or potted garden terrace.
For those who would like to purchase a plant, a knowledgeable plantsman will be on hand with a selection of plants.
This year’s show will be held in the gymnasium at St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church at 125 Pendleton St. SW in downtown Aiken. Each bloom is carefully delivered by individuals near and far to have them displayed and judged for the opportunity to be “Best Bloom in Show”.
You are welcome to enter a bloom of your own, or bring one to learn more about your variety. Blooms are welcomed for the show from 7:00 A.M. to 10:30 A.M.
The camellia show is then judged and doors are opened for the ‘show’ results from 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. Inside the show, these beautiful flowers will be included in an Ikebana exhibit for all to enjoy.
This event is FREE and provided by the Aiken Camellia Society, a member of the American Camellia Society.
Stay tuned for other local Camellia events!
