THE COLLECTION OF AZALEAS AND CAMELLIAS OF THE BOTANICAL GARDEN IN IASI – BOTANICAL, HORTICULTURAL, HISTORICAL, AESTHETIC AND EDUCATIONAL VALUES

The azalea and camellia collection of the “Anastasie Fatu” Botanical Garden of the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi holds an important significance for the horticultural value of the plant inventory cultivated in greenhouses. It includes 45 valuable taxa, mainly due to their size and age. The specimens in the collection are showcased through exhibitions organized annually since 1975, so in 2025 the 50th edition took place. In the Romanian botanical space, this collection has represented a constant, even in cases where specialized information regarding these taxa was rare or confusing.