The possibilities that I can think of are either it's produced a white-flowered sport that has taken over, or it's grafted and growth from the rootstock has taken over. Either way if no part of the plant is producing pink flowers now, it's extremely unlikely to go back to the pink variety.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Next door there was a 40+ year old double red camellia japonica-type, there was also a very dainty, small flowered paler red, single variety with leaves more like williamsii hybrids.. Shoots of both came up my side of the fence from below ground, which I did not discourage. The current owners cut their bushes back drastically, and eventually dug out both. The shoots my side have continued to flourish. These camellias are now contributing to my leylandii-hedge replacement policy.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
The front-facing leaves are "japonica". It never was Debbie, which is clearly a "williamsii" with williamsii leaves. The leaves on the far, white-flowered shoot are a bit williamsii-ish.
The propagator might have potted two plants together in error. Look carefully, you might have an additional bonus plant. I would guess "Jury's Yellow".
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
I would check to see if there's two plants. If there's one, then it's likely to be the graft theory we've mentioned. If there's two, the white one has become dominant and your pink one has failed. I love white ones, but most of them don't do well here.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks for all your comments and theories. It’s not a major problem it’s a small plant in a pot I can deadhead it before the flowers fade too badly. I was just curious how such a thing could happen. It does look like 2 plants and I do now vaguely remember digging up a camellia from the garden that was just a tiny thing and popping it in next to my much bigger Debbie. Just a stick with a few leaves so maybe that is the reason. I did think it had died. Thanks again for all your posts.
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Next door there was a 40+ year old double red camellia japonica-type, there was also a very dainty, small flowered paler red, single variety with leaves more like williamsii hybrids.. Shoots of both came up my side of the fence from below ground, which I did not discourage. The current owners cut their bushes back drastically, and eventually dug out both. The shoots my side have continued to flourish. These camellias are now contributing to my leylandii-hedge replacement policy.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
The front-facing leaves are "japonica". It never was Debbie, which is clearly a "williamsii" with williamsii leaves. The leaves on the far, white-flowered shoot are a bit williamsii-ish.
The propagator might have potted two plants together in error. Look carefully, you might have an additional bonus plant. I would guess "Jury's Yellow".
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
I love white ones, but most of them don't do well here.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...