Camellia sasanqua

Hi, does anyone grow camellia sasanqua? We have camellia japonica and it does ok but I've not seen any sasanqua in the area. I suppose my real question is how do they cope with dry conditions? Our japonica, once established, seem to do fine but we are in one of the driest parts of the country and I'm wondering if a dry summer would stop them flowering. If that's the case then they probably wouldn't be worth growing for us.

 

I've had one in a large pot by the side of the garage, which faces north for a good ten or more years. I think it's called 'Crimson King' and is in full flower now. I water it with rainwater most of the time but over this summer had to use tap water which so far it doesn't seem to mind.
You have to make sure they are kept well watered and fed during August/September as that's when the flower buds form.

 

@Thevictorian I have three Camellia sasanqua; the oldest is Narumigata, Rosea and Hugh Evans. They are in different parts of the garden and at the moment Hugh Evans and Narumigata are flowering, this is a few weeks earlier than normal.
As for care I mulch them with pine needles swept from the paths and the flat roof; I also make sure they don't get too dry in early summer when the flower buds form. My soft tap water is fine for them in dry years.
Frost will finish off open and opening flowers, but generally the less open flower buds are unaffected.

 

Many thanks. We have neutral-slightly alkaline, quite sandy soil here plus hard tap water here but the other camellias do well, so I'll probably give one a go.