Tourists and local visitors alike will thrill to the flowers, plantings and natural areas at Descanso Gardens. Don't miss the blooming camellias, rosarium and lilacs!

Visitors to Descanso Gardens near Los Angeles, California will particularly enjoy the rose garden, the largest camellia collection in North America, and many beautiful seasonal displays. Additional must-see features include a twelve acre California garden of native plants and a serene Japanese garden complete with tea house, Japanese maples and koi pond. Garden visitors may also be surprised to discover that lilacs (Syringa) are grown at Descanso, home of the famous “Lavender Lady” lilac developed for warmer climates.

Descanso Gardens began as Rancho del Descanso, a private estate developed in the 1930’s by newspaper publisher E. Manchester Boddy. Today, the not-for-profit garden includes the Boddy House along with 150 acres of gardens and pristine natural areas. Numerous educational programs are offered as well as hosting for a variety of horticultural events and meetings throughout the year.

Some Descanso Gardens highlights of special interest to flower gardeners:

Descanso Rose Garden: International Rosarium

The rose garden or International Rosarium displays approximately 2,600 rose plants including species, old garden and modern roses with the hybrid tea class being the best represented. The rose collection began in the late 1940s as a one acre project for Mr. Boddy and hybridizer Dr. Walter Lammerts. Revamped and designated the International Rosarium in 1994, the rose garden now covers five acres. Dedicated volunteers help to maintain the roses and companion plants. As might be imagined, proper irrigation is a main challenge to caring for the rose garden. Deer exclusion is another ongoing issue.

The Iris Garden

The extensive iris garden includes approximately 389 iris taxa, with the predominant type being the bearded irises. The collection currently includes many (but not all) of the Dykes Medal winners along with companion plants. Iris tend to do well in the region, however there are some issues caused by lack of sun due to large trees growing near the iris garden. Volunteers help care for the iris.

The Camellia Forest and Annual Camellia Festival

Descanso is known around the world for its 34,000 camellias and its collection is designated an International Camellia Garden of Excellence by the International Camellia Society. The Descanso Camellia Festival, held in February each year, is a celebration of these beautiful plants. Peak bloom is January to February. The extensive camellia planting, referred to as Camellia Forest, grows beneath towering native oaks. Many of the camellias are the size of small trees so visitors are able to walk among and beneath the flowers during bloom season. The camellia planting originated as a commercial planting for cut-flower sales. Mr. Boddy sold camellias to the cut-flower industry until the late 1940’s when petal blight affected the plants and the flowers were no longer marketable as a result.

“Lavender Lady” Lilac and the Descanso Lilac Collection

It is unusual to find true lilacs (Syringa) in southern California; the traditional lilacs typically will not bloom due to the warm winter weather. However, Descanso nurtures about 500 lilacs including approximately 180 lilac taxa. In the past, Descanso worked to develop lilacs suited to the local conditions. Although Descanso is no longer breeding lilacs, a number of lilac varieties developed by Descanso are still available commercially today. “Lavender Lady” is the most well known and successful of the so-called Descanso hybrids.

Overall Gardening Conditions:

USDA Winter Hardiness Zone 9 and Sunset Zone 20

Typical winter low: 44 degrees

Summer high: 91 degrees

Annual precipitation: 20 inches

Microclimate: "Mediterranean"

Soil type: Mostly decomposed granite

Size: 150 acres

Visitor Information:

Location: Southern California, a half hour north of Los Angeles

Street Address: 1418 Descanso Drive La Canada, CA 91011-3102

Web Site: www.descansogardens.org

This article copyright Barbara Martin all rights reserved