Road Trips Gardeners who are fans of camellias will want to put Spain on their travel itineraries.

The province of Galicia “boasts the perfect conditions for the cultivation of camellias,” according to the Tourist Office of Spain. “A humid climate, mild temperatures and acidic, fertile soil cause the spectacular growth of these plants, surprising experts the world over.

“Camellias arrived in Galicia in the late eighteenth century from distant countries like China and Japan. They were originally planted in the gardens of the manors and stately mansions of the Galician nobility, but eventually found their way into gardens and farms – both public and private – throughout the region, until they converted Galicia into an international leader in the cultivation and production of this plant.

“Galicia is currently home to nearly 8,000 varieties of camellia,” they report.

How to see them? Follow the Route of the Camellia. Information on the various gardens is here.

Most of the camellia exhibitions take place in late winter. There’s a listing here to help you plan your visit..

(Photo of Cereixa de Tollo – Camellia japonica – courtesy of Tourism Galicia)