Accessioning our Plant Collections
Preserving Magnolia Plantation & Gardens' Botanical Legacy
Credit: Mike Brewer, Collections Manager
At Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, we are committed to preserving and documenting the rich botanical heritage that makes us one of the oldest picturesque gardens. Our horticulture team has embarked on an important journey—accessioning our plant collections, starting with our renowned camellia collection.
Accessioning is the process of cataloging and recording detailed information about each plant, ensuring that we have a comprehensive database of our plants and trees. This work allows us to understand what we have and make informed decisions about how to enhance and expand our collections for future generations.
Our team is utilizing IrisBG, a specialized botanical collection management system, to document the camellias. Through this process, we have already made some remarkable discoveries, including camellia varieties that were thought to be extinct. While these findings are incredibly exciting, verification is key—we must carefully authenticate these plants to confirm their identities. Keep an eye out for exciting updates!
As part of this project, we use specialized tags to label and track each plant in our collection. The images shown above are examples of these tags. The ‘John G. Drayton’ (Camellia japonica), a beautiful cultivar from Magnolia, and ‘Frizzle White’ (Camellia japonica)are pictured with their accession tags. Looking beyond our historic camellia collection, our accessioning efforts will extend to our azaleas, magnolias, live oaks, and all the botanical wonders that define Magnolia Plantation and Gardens.
Accessioning does more than preserve history; it strengthens our relationships with other gardens, fosters collaboration, and allows us to share valuable plant material and knowledge with the wider horticultural community. By systematically cataloging our collections, we are not just documenting the past—we are shaping the future of Magnolia. Stay tuned as we continue this essential work and share exciting discoveries along the way!
