Courtesy Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

threat

The pre-World War II camellias are slowly being lost to a variety of factors, including real estate development, disease, natural events such as hurricanes, as well as the failure of modern nurseries to continue to propagate and promote them. Today, only one American nursery specializes in the older camellias, making them extremely difficult to find for the average gardener. Moreover, historic camellias are currently scattered throughout the country in both public and private collections, making it difficult to track and preserve them.