About the International Camellia Congress

Who is the International Camellia Society? 

The International Camellia Society is the official registration authority for the genus camellia, appointed by the International Society of Horticultural Scientists’ Commission on Cultivar Registration in 1962. Under that authority, the ICS publishes the International Camellia Register, which is the authoritative reference for camellia names worldwide.

The seeds of the ICS were planted in 1957 when Longwood Gardens (Kennett Square, PA) made a five-year grant of $59,000 for the creation of an international “checklist” of varietal names. An international advisory committee was appointed to oversee this project, whose members later founded the ICS in 1962 as the official registration authority. Initial officers were Professor E.G. Waterhouse of Australia (President); Mr. Albert Fendig of Georgia, U.S.A. (Vice-President); and Mr. Charles Puddle of England (Secretary-Treasurer).

ICS is also the accrediting authority for the International Camellia Gardens of Excellence, of which there are over 50 worldwide, including six (6) in the United States. Each garden must meet certain technical criteria and be inspected by ICS officers from other regions and voted upon by the ICS Board of Directors. Gardens selected for this achievement are assuredly among the finest camellia gardens in the world. 

ICS now consists of approximately 2,000 members around the globe. They range from leading experts to persons who are new to camellias. The ICS’ current President is Prof. Gianmario Motta of Milan, Italy. More details and membership information are available on the ICS website at www.internationalcamellia.org. 

What is the International Camellia Congress? 

Every two years, somewhere beautiful in the world, the International Camellia Society holds an extended meeting known as the International Camellia Congress. Its last Congress was in Tokyo, Japan in 2025. Other recent Congresses have been in Tuscany, Italy; Bordeaux, France; Dali, China; Galicia, Spain; Cornwall, England; and Melbourne, Australia. 

The format of an ICS Congress is generally four days of tours, meetings, and educational sessions. These are interspersed with lunches, dinners, receptions, and local culture. Some of the events are “coat & tie” and attended by local dignitaries. 

In addition to the Main Congress, many ICS members from overseas enjoy being able to extend their visit by attending a Pre-Congress and/or Post-Congress Tour in other nearby cities. 

The 2027 ICS Congress will be held in three cities over twelve (12) days during America’s peak camellia season. The host cities include Mobile, AL; Macon, GA; and Savannah, GA. This will be the 65th Anniversary of the founding of the International Camellia Society in 1962. It will coincide with the American Camellia Society’s national convention, making it a rare joint meeting of the world’s two largest camellia organizations.