When and How to Prune Camellias Without Killing Next Year’s Blooms

When and How to Prune Camellias Without Killing Next Year's Blooms

I still remember crouching in front of a ‘Debutante’ one November afternoon, counting its flower buds — eleven, maybe twelve, scattered thinly along stems that should have carried three times that number after a good rainy summer. That meager count told me everything I needed to know: somewhere the previous year, a badly timed cut … Read more

Can You Use a Hedge Trimmer on Camellias? A Pruning Tool Guide

Can You Use a Hedge Trimmer on Camellias? A Pruning Tool Guide

I’m Helen Pritchard, and I’ve spent over two decades cultivating camellias in the lush, temperate climate of the Pacific Northwest. My journey has led me through the intricacies of more than 200 named cultivars, from the delicate sasanquas to the robust japonicas and stunning reticulatas. I’ve had my fair share of successes and, believe me, … Read more