Camellias take their bow — feed them, shape them, then let them sulk until autumn.
Camellia care in Portland shifts into a critical window in late May, when japonica varieties have finished blooming and sasanquas are pushing fresh growth. This is the one stretch of the year when you can prune, feed, and reshape without sacrificing next winter's flowers. Get it right now and your shrubs will reward you from October through April.
This Week's Action List
- Prune Camellia japonica now, within three weeks of the last bloom drop. Shape lightly with hand pruners, removing crossing branches and any dead wood. Cut back to a leaf node or side branch — never leave stubs longer than half an inch.
- Feed camellias with an acid loving shrub fertilizer (look for a 4 to 8 to 8 ratio or a rhododendron blend) at one cup per established shrub. Water it in thoroughly. Portland Nursery and Cornell Farm both stock E.B. Stone Azalea, Camellia and Gardenia Food, which works beautifully here.
- Refresh mulch to a depth of two to three inches using fine fir bark or pine needles, keeping it pulled back two inches from the trunk. Camellias are shallow rooted and our June dry spell will scorch exposed roots fast.
- Scout for camellia leaf gall now — those pale, fleshy, swollen leaves that look like alien fruit. Pick them off by hand and bag them in the trash (not compost) before the undersides turn white and release spores. The West Hills and inner Southeast see the worst outbreaks in cool, damp Mays like this one.
- Check soil moisture weekly going forward. Established camellias need about one inch of water per week once the rain shuts off in mid June; container grown camellias need a deep soak every three to four days through summer.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I prune camellias in Portland?
Prune Camellia japonica in late May or early June, immediately after the last blooms drop. Sasanqua types should be pruned in late winter before spring growth. Pruning later than mid June risks cutting off the flower buds that set for next season.
Why are my camellia leaves turning yellow in Portland?
Yellowing usually means the soil pH has drifted above 6.5 or the shrub is short on iron. Portland's clay soils tend toward neutral over time, so apply a soil acidifier or an acid loving fertilizer in late May and again in July. If yellowing is concentrated on new growth with green veins, that is classic iron chlorosis and a chelated iron drench will green it up within two weeks.