Camellia Gardens
The Botanic Gardens contain one of the largest private camellia collections in the U.S.A. and is recognized as an International Camellia Garden of Excellence.
Camellias are found throughout the gardens. In 2002, more than 450 identified camellia varieties from the private collection of American camellia enthusiasts Violet and Hank Stone were propagated from cuttings and planted under live oaks and pine trees along the drive through the property. Some of the varieties are rare and valuable, as part of the collection the Stones had accumulated over more than 50 years. Many of them were originated or introduced by the Stones. The Windrush Garden itself includes a historic collection of many of the older camellias popular in south Louisiana. The Early American Camellia Garden in the Barton Arboretum contains camellias that were introduced to the American landscape prior to 1900.