Changes in Bloom on Several Grafted Camellias

Question

Several of my camellias, which we grew by grafting onto seeding stock, have had dramatic shifts in their type of blooms. The blooms look small and open with a funnel shape. I am thinking of cutting them down in that their blooms are not attractive after many years of beautiful blooms. What caused the shift? Can it be a plant virus? Thanks for any advice you can give.

Answer 1

Camellias are a very interesting plant, not least because they have been under cultivation and hybridization for such a long time. Therefore, they are apt to have unexpected behaviors at any time. I don’t think a virus is the most likely cause for the change in your plants, more likely it’s some kind of environmental change, or even just the natural course of events. You might try discussing the problem with your local extension service. This link will help you find the nearest office:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/what-is-extension-service.htm
You might also want to talk to a camellia society; you could probably find information on such from the nearest botanical garden.