Two hundred years ago a Camellia called Middlemist’s Red was imported from China by an English gardener. There are only two recorded examples left – one in the UK and one New Zealand. (Pictures courtesy of Chiswick House)

It’s in full bloom for the next couple of weeks and was meant to be the star attraction at the Chiswick House Gardens £12m reopening, which because of the cold winter has been delayed until the summer.

It is an important conservation story, says Fiona Crumley, head gardener at Chiswick House and Gardens: "It’s the importance of getting as many people as possible to grow them to ensure they stay with us on this planet."

London gardener John Middlemist brought the Camellia back from China in 1804, at a time when rare flowers were considered a valued cargo to sell to the wealthy.

As the shrub was sold to members of the public, it is very possible that there is somebody around who has a Middlemist’s Red growing in their garden, says Ms Crumley.