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Dear Diarmuid

I planted a camellia about six years ago and it never flowered. It was lush and green and grew to about 5ft, but sadly no flowers.

I moved it last spring and I got about a dozen of them. It budded in late August and they still have buds. Do I just leave these on or do I deadhead them?

Please help.

S Nelson,

Co Durham Hi there That’s good you were able to improve flowering by changing the camellia’s location. You’re quite right – the buds form the year before (which is why it’s so important that camellias don’t dry out during the summer) and all being well, these will open to blooms in spring.

So don’t deadhead them, let them blossom!

Diarmuid