Hello, Eric. For the best answer to your question, I will defer to the Virginia Camellia Society Members on this link:

http://www.genserva.com/vcs/

But be advised, you are not the only one with similar issues. I too get unpredictable weather (cold temps, warmer temps, cold temps again, etc). We just went thru a couple of drops to 13F and 15F that resulted in delayed blooming and also in a few browned out blooms. I currently have no blooming camellias as a result. Does this story sound familiar to you? Ha! I know, I l know. What a pain.

My solution has been three fold. (1) do what you planned to do, (2) make sure that the camellias are well mulched aaaaand watered deeply the night before the temps plummet and (3) get ideas from nearby gardens (city gardens or other growers).

Most of my camellias are Japonicas which bloom this time of the year. Unless temps plummet and then they either (a) pause and continue blooming later or (b) the flower buds brown out and fall (does not happen often but it does happen).

As long as the flower buds have not browned out, you will get bloomage. The longest episode of delayed blooms for me was one that stopped in January and restarted in mid-March.

Obviously, sasanquas and the Autumn Series will bloom early and not be often affected by this problem. On the opposite side of the calendar, the April Series, the Winter Series and camellias advertised as blooming "late" or "very late" would be possible choices as well. Note: these shrubs tend to bloom "around" the coldest time of the year, not bloom "right on through" it.

After a cold spell that makes your camellias stop blooming, I would head over to the Norfolk Botanical Gardens to see if you find any camellias that are still blooming. Maybe wait 1 week, 2 weeks after the cold spell and then go?

Do note that most camellias will have issues blooming in the coldest part of the year. Your location and mine are not locations where they naturally grow.

Enjoy Nuccio's Gem. I wanted one but the local nursery ran out and I bought Nuccio's Pearl. Then the dogs helped to kill it so I replaced it with one similar to NG called White by the Gate. Now if I can only convince it that the weather will be warm for the next two weeks.... ;o)

Note that there are some people that winter protect camellias (especially potted ones) in the hope of preventing this blooming problem and actual damage to branches. However, your white 6 footer is now getting to be a tad "large"/"big" for that. I sometimes prepare smaller shrubs like hydrangeas for winter but a 6' or taller camellia starts to push the envelope. I am talking about things like layers of horticultural fleece draped over bushes and secured to prevent being blown away...

Does this help? Luis

I'm in Providence, RI so it gets a lot colder here than where you are. I have one fall blooming Camellia sasanqua "Snow Flurry" that blooms well every year. The growth habit is semi-weeping, so I have to trim it back every spring, and although it's smothered with flowers in fall, they don't last very long. Still, there are so many that the show lasts close to a month. Not bad for here in New England. But there are other, and I think better choices now for fall bloomers. I've had Snow Flurry for over 18 years, so a lot of newer hybrids available now for you to try.

I also have several spring blooming ones in the "April" series (April Blush, April Remembered and April Dawn). In a mild winter, they are gorgeous blooming in April into May. In a cold winter, many of the buds die like yours do. In a very severe winter, they will also die back, and I have to cut them back to thicker wood, but they always survive.

So in your climate, maybe a good idea would be to have some of both. That way you can always get a nice fall show, and, with a mild winter, another spring show. Worst case would be that the spring bloomers will just be nice green shrubs, and try again for flowers the next season.

Good luck.

Thanks Bill and Luis. I think this is good advice: "So in your climate, maybe a good idea would be to have some of both. That way you can always get a nice fall show, and, with a mild winter, another spring show. Worst case would be that the spring bloomers will just be nice green shrubs, and try again for flowers the next season."

I seem to have problems with blasted buds even with my October Affair japonica which is supposed to bloom in the fall and winter.

I hear you. Most japonicas start blooming in late November to early January for me (later for you sometimes, as late as March-April up North). Cold spells make mine shut down blooming or delay blooming. They try to restart 1-2 months later on, depending on the cold present at that later time. I suggest adding some Fall blooming sasanquas as these tend to bloom closer to the start of the Fall (October-February for you); check some local suggestions here:

http://www.cspv.org/wp-content/pdfs/CamelliaSasanquaPresentation.pdf

I also suggest contacting the Camellia Society of the Potomac Valley (see above) or email missz@aol.com to get the inside scoop. Ask them about which of their listed selections are the earliest blooming ones. That should improve your odds of getting bloomage in the Fall. Only a deep fall below freezing in Oct-Nov would trigger them to stop blooming or cause bud drop. Keep them well mulched and deeply watered before those temp drops near or below freezing if you can.