Problems, pests and diseases

There are few problems if cultural conditions are right but look out for the following:

Sudden Oak Death

Phytophthora ramorum is a fungus causing the syndrome 'Sudden Oak Death'. This ravages the camellia flowers rapidly reducing them to a brown dead mess. It is very bad in California and New Zealand and it is spreading in the UK.

As the camellia blooms the spores of the fungus attach to the flowers which turns them brown, mushy and kills the flower. This only affects the bloom and not the camellia bush. The blooms fall to the ground and the fungus enters its dormant stage, forming minute black lumps. The fungus becomes active in the spring releasing the spores in the breeze and so the cycle begins again.

The only way to control an affected plant is strict hygiene. As soon as the flowers fall to the ground they should be removed and burned. Also remove dead blooms from the bush, and the cycle should be broken and next year the flowers will be clean.

You can identify the fungus by a silver furry ring around the base of the flower where the flower was attached to the plant. Black sooty mould may be seen on leaves, this is due to scale insects on the underside of the leaves above. Treat these insects, not the mould.  Spray with a bio-friendly chemical. The sooty mould can then be washed off with soapy water.

Camellia Flower Blight

This was discovered in the United Kingdom several years ago. Originally from China and Japan it soon spread to America, New Zealand and Europe. The damage caused only affects the flowers.

Unlike other fungi, flower blight attacks the blooms as they open with the petals first showing a rusty brown colour. The flower turns brown starting from the centre of the flower and spreading to the tips and the flower could be dead within three days.

The fungal spores can travel up to 2 kilometres. The only remedy is to remove all fallen petals and flowers and keep the ground clear at all times. The fungus can be identified by a silver ring of fungal tissue at the base of the flower.