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Old 14-04-2009, 01:13 AM posted to rec.gardens
David E. Ross David E. Ross is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 585
Default 50 year old Camellia and Azalea dropping blossoms

On 4/13/2009 11:14 AM, Dave_S wrote:
I live in Van Nuys, Southern California, zip 91402. Both my 50 year old
Camellia and an approximately 35 year old Azalea just produced a
beautiful set of blossoms this spring.

The camellia began dropping fully open and partially open flowers almost
immediately after the bush was loaded with blossoms. Is this normal
behavior for camellias in this Southern Calif location? This bush has
dropped flowers for several seasons. I am careful not to feed prior or
during blossom time. How can I prevent blossom drop? How long should the
open blossoms remain open and on the bush at my location?


The Azalea, very near the Camellia also opened a huge number of very
colorful blossoms. For the last week or so, the fully open blossoms are
falling off. Is blossom dropping this early in spring normal for my
location? How many weeks should open blossoms remain open and on the
bush. Again, I am careful to not feed before or during blossom time.

Taank you for suggestions and reports of typical behavior from Southern
Calif. folks. I am having similar troubles with a Gardenia bush in the
same exposure and flower bed. The Gardenia bush drop most of its leaves
last fall. Replacement new leaf growth are very small and slow despite
feeding.

Many thanks, Dave_s


I suggest you contact Descanso Gardens in La Caņada Flintridge about
this question. They are between you and Pasadena, off the 210 Freeway.
The main feature of Descanso Gardens is its forest of old camellia
bushes. This was originally the estate of Manchester Boddy, a newspaper
publisher in Los Angeles who also had a side business of supplying cut
camellias to florists.

See http://www.descansogardens.org/site/.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary