It is a Camellia. There are hundreds and I know nothing about them. You are in the middle of Camellia county so maybe you could try a specialist nursery with your pictures. Or maybe contact the Penzance park people, though I do not hold out much hope of them knowing.

Looks structurally to involve Camellia sasanqua. Timing of flowering fits that one also. Might be one of the same old early introductions Charles Williams shows and discusses on YouTube videos Caerhays has up.

caerhays - Bing video

Embothrium - it is quite possiblity an old spp/var as the park was created to commemorate the local soldiers killed in the Boer Wars.

Good idea, Floral. The staff there seem to be a bit more knowledgeable than others I have spoken to. I visited the garden, as I had heard that there might be a Wollemi Pine there. It was only after speaking to one of the guys, and being given the 3rd degree, that they showed me where it they had 'hidden' it, in plain sight amongst a clump of other trees and a stand of bamboo. Apparently they were concerned that it might grow legs and walk.

I've seem 5 gallon pots of Wollemia on the garden center market here for over 300 dollars US.

If you scroll down the page of Caerhays videos I linked to there is one with Williams standing in front of what might even be the same variety of Sasanqua. Otherwise he shows and discusses others growing near it - as I remember it there are 2 or 3 different white ones together in the same grouping. Note also there are two videos of Sasanquas at Caerhays on that page.

Mine No Yuki?

Embothrium

Nice link. Thank you.

I see Burncoose is part of their estate, so when I pop down to Falmouth next week, to stock up on wine, I will pop in, as they are on my way.

I know Wollemia are expensive, and can be susceptable to soil borne diseases, but are a really fantastic tree. The bark looks like cocopops and the leaf/branch construction, is, as far as I know, unique.

@undertheoaksgardener

Thanks for the suggestion. A distinct possibility.

Wollemia are expensive because they are rare and highly endangered. So not surprising the garden caretakers were so protective :-) The risk of theft is very real.

I think thefof is aware of that gg😉 He’s a transplanted Australian, I believe.

A foot tall Wollemi is around 95$ here.

Nah, Floral.

I'm a runaway convict who managed to get back to Old Blighty. :-)))

So fof stands for “Fugitive of Fannie Bay”?

tj