Camellias remind me of kids, each with its own unique personality, even within the same variety, which is one of the things that fascinates me. Once settled in after 2-3 years they are almost indestructible and will live for hundreds of years, but if they don't like a certain spot at first they will let you know. The reasons are many, Ph, soil pathogens, low planting height, drainage, etc., you may even have gotten one from the nursery with some dieback. My wife accuses me of moving them around like furniture, its not quite that bad, but I do have a few that are well traveled. If it were mine, I would pop it up and move it, or repot it for awhile and see if it strengthens up. Whats to lose. Its about time for dormancy which would be a good time. Prune out any dead wood or cankers well below to eliminate any diseased wood.

Thanks Forrest,
I think it was a bad plant from the supplier..
My other Mrs. Tingley planted in the same place,
with the same treatment, same watering, purchased
at almost the same time is thriving...many buds.
The other one is sadly... dying.. all the leaves dry.
There are buds.. but they are drying out too.
It's as if someone came in my garden and poured
a gallon of clorine bleach into it...happened fast!
I don't have a clue to what happened...
Maybe the possum that visits used it as a fire hydrant.

I can return it... but sad that a camellia died in my care.
michael

I bought two camellias this spring and planted them in the same kind of conditions. One is thriving, has grown 2' and is full of buds for the coming season.

The other one had two main trunks. One of the trunks died and the other survived. It is doing okay, but nothing like on the other camellia.

You can never predict what a living thing like a plant is going to do.