W. F. "Hody" Wilson Camellia Garden

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One of the most impressive camellia gardens in the state is located between Hammond and Robert at the Hammond Research Station. This two-acre garden located under towering pine trees features over 450 named cultivars and about 200 unnamed seedlings or unidentifiable cultivars of Camellia japonicas (best known as camellias) and Camellia sasanquas (best known as sasanquas). Most of the camellias in this collection were planted in the late 1930s through the early 1950s. The collection was planted by W. F. “Hody” Wilson, Jr., superintendent of the station from the mid 1930s until 1975. Mr. Wilson was a internationally-known for his camellia breeding during his time at the station. The two most well known selections of Mr. Wilson are ‘Manship’ and ‘Jerry Wilson’. Many of the camellias in this collection are from Mr. Wilson’s breeding program and may be the only one of its kind.