But when the International Camellia Society (ICS) says it is one of the best in the world, well that's "blooming great", collection curator Marianne Groothuis says.
ICS president Pat Short, of the United Kingdom, was in Dunedin yesterday to assess the collection, and believes it is likely the Camellia Garden at the Dunedin Botanic Garden will join 17 other camellia gardens around the world which have earned recognition as an ICS garden of excellence.
"It's nicely laid out. There's been some thought into organising the plantings. They're not higgledy-piggledy and the surroundings are very pleasant," she said.
"I love it. I think it's a really lovely garden. There is a fine collection of camellias here."
The Dunedin Botanic Garden camellia collection was initiated in the 1950s with a variety of japonica and sasanqua plantings.
There are now 700 camellia plants, representing 600 named cultivars, hybrids and species.
Mrs Short believed the garden would "make the cut" to be included on the list, but it would not be official until the move was approved by the ICS directors at the society's next congress, in Chuxiong (China) in February next year.
"I wouldn't put a garden foward to the directors if I didn't think it would make it."
Mrs Short said Dunedin's Camellia Garden would be the first in New Zealand to be accepted.
Ms Groothuis was delighted with the news, and what it would mean for the city.
"It's incredible news for me.
"I've been looking after the garden for nearly 20 years. I know the collection pretty intimately and this accolade is a highlight of my career."
Being a garden of excellence meant Dunedin was now a place to go to see one of the best camellia gardens in the world, she said.
International Camellia Society gardens of excellence
Australia: Royal Botanic Gardens.
China: Chinese Camellia Cultural Park.
Germany: Kamelien Paradies.
Italy: Villa Anelli.
Japan: Goto Camellia Forest Park; Kurume Camellia Garden; Camellia Garden of Ishibashi Cultural Centre; Tsubakiyama Forest Park.
South Africa: Vergelegen Estate and Gardens.
Switzerland: Locarno City Camellia Park.
United Kingdom: Antony Woodland Garden; Marwood Hill; Mount Edgcumbe Country Park and Gardens.
United States: Descanso Gardens; Huntington Botanical Gardens; Massee Lane Garden; Norfolk Botanical Gardens.
