Camellia

I have never been able to grow camellias. I think probably due to my soil. It's clay. I have spent over twenty years improving it. The Rhodis and azaelas do fine as do acers. I have a magnolia which comes into leaf yellow but responds very quickly to sequestered iron. A friend gave me an enormous camelia about four years ago. I planted in lots of compost and fed it, pruned it hard and it sprouted lots of new leaves and has grown quite well. I have it planted south facing but sheltered from the morning sun. I see this year the leaves have all gone a coppery brown. Is it worth trying to save this?

 

I would try to save it if it was mine Rhyletsgranny but I don't know why the leaves have gone brown. You could give it a good watering incase it's drought.
You don't say if the Camelia has flowered for you. They form the flower buds in summer and drought in simmer is the usual cause of failure to flower with them so they need to be kept well watered. I hope it recovers for you.

 

granny, your Camellia needs exactly the same treatment as your Azaleas and Rhodos. It too is a woodland plant and prefers light or dappled shade with an acid soil.:thumb:

 

The camellia hasn't flowered yet. It is very bushy and about two feet high. The main trunk is about 4 inches diameter.. I was not worried about water during the past two summers as it was so wet here. Prior to that i watered it well throughout the summer months. i have given it a feed of sequestered iron. I do find camellias harder than the rest. They must be very demanding beasties. Oh it is in dappled shade. South facing but overhung by trees.