READER’S QUESTION

OUR pink camellia was coming into flower when the cold spell hit. Every flower seems to have been ruined. Have we lost this year’s show altogether or will more blooms arrive? Also, will the plant have been damaged? The variety is St Ewe. Mrs M. Brady, Leicestershire. frosT is a frequent cause of damage to early-blooming camellias. partially or fully opened flowers will be spoilt, but not the buds. so if there are any tightly closed flower buds remaining, these will open later. C. x williamsii varieties such as st Ewe are fully hardy outdoors. But the flowers are vulnerable to frosts because they begin to open so early in the year. There’s little you can do about that, but since they flower over a long period, it’s unusual for all the blooms to be spoilt. Any buds still unopened should be fine.