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Plant identification. Is this a Camellia? Or something else?

IanJamesIanJames Posts: 6
in Plants
Hi,

This was in our garden when we bought the house. I wondered from my limited knowledge if it was a Camellia but it has never flowered.

It is about 3 foot tall, has shiny green leaves, silver grey branches. I can't really get a panned out photo at the moment as it's currently swamped by aquilegia foliage but hopefully there's enough detail in the pics below.

It looked very yellow and mottled year one (chlorosis I assumed) - and I've added some ericaceous compost in case that's the issue - but still not sure it is completely happy (see mottled leaf photo below) where it is and wondering whether to dig it up and put it in some better/acidic soil - but could do with being completely sure what it is! Thanks!




Posts

  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,705
    Yes it's a Camellia japonica type..  clearing away some of that weedy growth would be good, and mulch with ericaceous.. those yellowing leaves just look like old ones to me, I'd pull them off..
    A pelleted feed for acid plants, and a liquid feed with sequestered iron at this time of year, and occasionally through the summer, is beneficial in less than ideal situations..
    East Anglia, England
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    The most important thing to get them to flower, is to make sure they are well fed and watered in late Summer/Autumn.
    They don't actually need acidic soil, neutral is fine.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • IanJamesIanJames Posts: 6
    Thanks for your advice both. Exciting to have it confirmed we have a Camellia  :) That's interesting to hear they don't particularly need acidic soil. I am never actually sure how to test PH in an easily repeatable (across the garden) way - I bought one of those £10 ph/moisture/light metres off amazon but that seemed a bit of piece of junk for PH testing, maybe I got a duff one, or maybe those all are. I've been trying to keep it well watered and mulched (with ericaceous compost) over the last summer/autumn - and giving it liquid seaweed+ericaceous feeds. I'll check if they have seqstered iron in. The leaves are looking more consistently dark green than the year before (where it looked really yellow) so hopefully it's a bit happier. I'll keep at it with it where it is and with some fingers crossed I might see some flowers next spring! Thanks again.


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