Although camellias are often advertised as hardy and easy to care for, neither is actually true. Both a certain amount of care and protection from severe frost are important for your camellia to live long and bloom profusely.

The camellia only tolerates frost for a short time

Can pruning save my camellia?

It may actually be necessary to prune your camellia. However, you should not rush into this. Only cut off really dry parts of the plant. Test beforehand whether the shoot in question still has juice. A radical pruning only makes sense if no new shoots can be seen.

When should I prune my camellia?

Give yourself and especially your camellia time until (late) spring. New shoots are quite possible and should be allowed to grow in peace. In April, check your camellia for frost damage, new shoots or the first signs of it. You can now remove absolutely dry shoots without hesitation. For a harmonious growth habit, shorten all other shoots so that the top remaining shoot points outwards.

How do I overwinter my camellia in the future?

If you want the plant to overwinter outside, winterize your camellia. Spread a thick layer of foliage or bark mulch over an area equal to the size of the shrub (crown diameter). Also make sure that your camellia is well protected from icy winds and put up a windbreak if necessary.

It is best to overwinter a camellia in a pot in a frost-free winter quarters. This can be a cold greenhouse or a little heated conservatory. Even a bright basement room can be considered. Above all, the selected winter quarters should be bright and not too warm.

The essentials in brief:

  • Camellias are rarely hardy
  • completely frozen plants cannot be saved
  • if there is little frost damage, consider pruning
  • ideal winter quarters: bright and frost-free

tips

If your camellia is completely frozen, it can no longer be saved by a (radical) pruning.

Category:

Vegetable garden