Hours before sunrise, the thermometer showed nineteen degrees (Fahrenheit), but that’s beside the house, so I figure the night was colder by a degree or two. No doubt, temperatures will turn colder as winter progresses, but this was the coldest night so far as autumn flowering camellias are blooming. It’s not a pretty sight.
Of course, while recent drops into the upper twenties did little damage, flowers that were blooming splendidly a day ago are no more, all turned to pink and white mush that will further deteriorate to brown in the days ahead. The conscientious gardener could pluck the browned blooms (at least as high as he can reach), but that seems a lost cause since the next round of flowers to open will inevitably be damaged next week.
Still, I have no regrets. The autumn flowering camellias are a favorite, blooming for weeks when there are few other flowers in the garden. I don’t care much for pink, but in December who can be picky?
Ramblin' through Dave's Garden 
Mine were exceptional this year…
Gail Mackiernan, Colesville
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Long ago, cold temperatures often injured flower buds of spring bloomers, but with milder winters and growth, the now large camellias put on a splendid show in autumn and spring.
Years ago I planted a Carolina Jessamine in my garden. For years it would be killed back every winter, I only got a few blooms. About a decade ago this stopped, and it is now half way up an old black locust and gives me tons of lovely yellow – but notoriously toxic – flowers every spring.
The times they are a-changing’
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Some of the increased flowering can be attributed to a more mature plant, but there’s no doubt our warmer winters are the primary reason.
WOW
I tried a few years back to grow camellias but they both were a total bust!!
What are the best tips for successful camellia growing??
And I now live in zone 8 with sand for soil – (FL panhandle)
Do you think they will grow here?
The temps so far seem to average only about 10 degrees warmer than the DMV.
Camellias are ideal for the southeast. While I must choose hardier varieties, your choices are not limited. I assume you’ll need to amend your sandy soil, but there should be few limitations otherwise. My problems with camellias, back in the days when we had colder winters, was bud hardiness. I chose varieties that were most cold tolerant, but buds of spring bloomers were often damaged. Not any longer, though the early spring flowers are also often damaged in late freezes.
Beautiful, I agree not much blooming in the garden now. Mine bloomed very well this year.
When do you prune autumn camellias?
I would prune in late winter, but several are over ten feet tall, and none have ever been pruned. I rarely prune anything except dead or broken branches.