Story
The Camellia Park in Locarno was opened in March 2005 during the world congress of the International Camellia Society (ICS), which was held in the city that year.
More than a decade after its creation, the Park has become an international attraction, both for its landscape value and its inestimable botanic collections.
It is situated in a lacustrine area not only attractive from a naturalistic point of view, but also excellent for growing camellias.
Its extension between 2007 and 2009 created space for a pavilion containing educational information, a small amphitheater overlooking the lake, a pond and more camellia plants.
Nowadays the Park houses 950 different varieties of camellia, as well as roughly 300 cultivars, some still to be identified, or dupli- cates in preparation for eventual substitutions.
The camellias flower in succession for nine months of the year. The presence in the park of different species (C. sasanqua, C. hiemalis, C. vernalis, C. japonica, C. reticulata, C. ibride, Higo and various other species) guarantees an almost continuous floral spectacle.
The Locarno Parks and Gardens Department and the Lake Maggiore Tourist Authority are mainly responsible for its creation.
The constant presence of the Swiss Camellia Society vouches for the customary famous Locarno Camellia flower show, an exhibition of at least 300 cut flowers carefully displayed in a marquee erected on site as an optimal way to herald the arrival of spring.
