Historia de la camelia en la jardinería gallega

Abstract

Although the arrival in the Iberian Peninsula for the first live camellia plants is notdocumented, there are historical and cultural evidences that suggest that it could happen inthe 16th and 17th centuries. The presence of Portuguese and Spanish navigators in Asia, areaof the genus Camellia, the missionaries evangelizing mission in Japan, early attempts to growin Europe Camellia sinensis (tea), artistic representations with camellias in fabrics, ceramics,furniture, etc., suggest they arrived before the 18th century. Until Linnaeus named the genusCamellia in 1735, these plants were known as “china roses” or local names transcribed (Tcha,Tsubaki, etc.), so they are difficult to identify in written references. At the end of 18th century, camellias are incorporated into Galician landscape and becomepreferential element of its gardens, first hand of the nobility, then becoming a feature of alllandscape areas of Galicia. In the South of Pontevedra it is known as “flor das Rías Baixas”and it has earned the recognition of Flor de Galicia for its current expansion, creating theRoute of camellias, a visit by 12 gardens, complemented with products derived from theseplants: Galician tea, oil, art