Winter Blooms Along the South River: The Legacy of Dr. Ackerman’s Camellias
- London Town
- Nov 4, 2025
- 1 min read
The breeze off the South River turns sharper this time of year. Though the weather still shifts between warm and cool, the wind signals that winter is on its way. As the trees release their leaves and the hillside opens to the full force of the season, this landscape becomes the perfect backdrop for one of London Town’s most remarkable stories.
In the early 1980s, Dr. William Ackerman selected the cold northwest hillside at Historic London Town and Gardens as one of his test beds for Camellia hybridization. As the lead research horticulturist for the National Arboretum’s Woody and Herbaceous Plant Breeding and Cytogenics Program, he brought decades of expertise to the project.
Working alongside London Town’s first Director of Horticulture, Tony Dove, Dr. Ackerman developed 46 new Camellia cultivars. Many were created both at his Glenn Dale home and here along the banks of the South River. His groundbreaking work helped bring hardy, ornamental Camellias to gardens throughout the DMV region.
Today, the Ackerman cultivars, such as ‘Winter’s Hope,’ ‘Londontowne Blush,’ and ‘Pink Icicle’, continue to thrive along London Town’s Winter Walk and Camellia Trail. These plants offer a reliable evergreen structure and bursts of color even in the coldest of winter.
Visit us this season to experience the beauty of our autumn and winter-blooming Camellias, on display now through late April. For visitor hours and planning details, please visit www.historiclondontown.org/visit.
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I really enjoyed learning about the history and beauty of Dr. Ackerman’s camellias — it’s wonderful how certain plants can carry such a legacy through the seasons. It got me thinking about how understanding history and context matters in many areas of life, including education. While browsing options on Education Vibes, I found that looking into the Petrozavodsk State Medical University ranking alongside other factors helped give a well‑rounded sense of the university’s academic profile, much like appreciating these blooms gives a fuller sense of the garden’s legacy.
Stunt Bike Extreme . The idea of camellias blooming vibrantly in the depths of winter, offering a splash of color when everything else is dormant, is just wonderful.