How to Join the International Camellia Society and Get Involved

The International Camellia Society (ICS) is an international non-profit society with almost 2,000 members worldwide, and its website at internationalcamellia.org provides a "Join the ICS" entry point alongside a "Member login" option for existing members. If you want to become a member, log in to an existing account, donate to camellia research, or follow society news and congresses, the site groups all of these actions in its main navigation. The sections below explain what each path offers and what to check before you commit.

Joining the ICS

The homepage presents "Join the ICS" and "Join us now" as the membership entry points, separate from the "Member login" link used by current members. That separation matters: if you already hold an account, use the login; if you are new, start with the join link rather than the login form.

The site does not publish membership pricing, tier details, or a fee schedule in the material available, so treat cost and membership categories as things to confirm on the join page itself before submitting anything. What the site does state is the society's purpose: promoting the knowledge, cultivation, and development of camellias through various initiatives. Membership is therefore the route to participating in that mission rather than a standalone product.

What membership connects you to

• The International Camellia Register — the society's record for camellia names and registration, including a separate Camellia Species Register and guidance on registering a camellia.
• Gardens of Excellence — a programme recognising notable camellia gardens across Africa, Asia, Oceania, Europe, and the Americas, with published conditions and a "PROPOSED" status category.
• Articles and the Journal Archive — congress proceedings, historical articles, and a searchable journal archive.
• Special interest material — including historic camellias, showing camellias, grafting and propagation, yellow camellias, hybridisation, conservation and preservation, and identification and DNA.

Logging in and language options

Existing members use the "Member login" link. The site also offers a language selector covering Deutsch, English, Español, Français, 日本語, Português, and 中文, which is useful if you prefer to read membership or care information in a language other than English. A "Contact us" link is provided for questions that the site itself does not answer — for example, membership status or payment issues, which are not documented in the public pages.

Getting involved beyond membership

Donate to ICS

The site includes a "Donate to ICS" option under its funding activity, described as "Funding research on Camellias." If your interest is supporting camellia research rather than joining, this is the direct route. As with membership, no pricing or payment details are published in the available material, so confirm the mechanics on the donation page.

Events and congresses

The Events section lists past congresses — Japan 2025, Italy 2023, Nantes 2018, and Dali 2016 — alongside a "Call for Paper" for congress proceedings. If you want to present or attend, the congress pages and the call for papers are the places to watch, and the "News & Events" section carries regular updates.

News and the President's messages

The News section publishes monthly President's Messages (the listing runs from January 2026 through May 2026, plus midyear and end-year messages for 2025). Following these is the lowest-commitment way to stay current with the society before deciding on membership.

Choosing your path

One practical caveat: because the site does not publish membership fees, donation amounts, or login requirements in the material reviewed here, do not assume membership or donations are free, and do not assume any section is accessible without an account. Verify those details on the relevant page before proceeding.