SC horticulturalists head to Europe for camellias

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Gardeners from Magnolia Plantation and Gardens are going to Europe to take cuttings from ancient camellias.

The plantation says that Tom Johnson and Miles and Miles Beach leave Wednesday to travel to six gardens in France and Belgium. They plan to take more than 1,000 cuttings from about 150 varieties of ancient camellias from varieties that were created before 1900.

Magnolia, which is near Charleston, hopes to eventually grow the world’s largest collection of ancient camellias.

The gardeners return late next week and the cuttings, after being inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, should be in the Lowcountry by Sept. 21. The cuttings will be ready to plant in about three years.