camelia

I never have any luck with them either. I think they like acid soil like azaleas, which we don't have, but I am sure someone will be along with better advice soon!

They should be planted in a sheltered position, away from cold winds and the early morning sun, so it doesn't shine on frosted buds.

They do like acid soil and they don’t do great in an east facing situation. We inherited one when we moved here and it struggles on an east facing fence. It’s too big to move unfortunately. My neighbour across the road has one which faces the opposite direction and it does very well. To be honest I don’t think the weather has done them any favours this year either.

Yes we've got ours behind a fence so it faces west and doesn't get the sun until about lunchtime. They also need lots of water through the Autumn I believe, for the buds to develop.

Camelias are so beautiful when/if they get a chance to flower, but nearly every year here in Dorset their buds or emerging blooms are hit by frost. Also magnolias - such a shame.

They need ericacous soil as they are acid lovers, and should not be planted where the early morning easterly sun can fall on the flowers buds if there has been a frost.

A prime reason buds do not mature is if the plant has been allowed to get dry in the summer. Keep them watered then especially with left over tea.

Earnshaw as others have said, they like acid soil & Miracle-Gro for ericaceous plants is your friend.
Mine get liberal doses every year & most do well, but some varieties seem better than others. I also mulch with home-made compost every year too.

Acid soil are essential if you don’t have that a pot or tub with Ericaceous compost, is an alternative this year even the specialist gardens have been hit by the frosts.

Agree with avalon, plenty of water and feed through the summer when the buds are beginning to form really helps. They do take a while to establish, next year will be better I’m sure.

We have one in the front garden facing east. Planted by previous owner ?5-6 years ago. We took over in 2018 and no buds or flowers since then until this year when it's beautiful. The buds appeared last Oct. and we've had very little frost.
The years between it became leggy and I didn't know what to do so just cut it right back. Very mysterious

We have four camellias and they have never had any feeds or ericaeous compost I'm sorry to confess. They are situated north, south and east but all have at least part shade. We have a deep red, a pink, a white and a red-pink. They all flower well inspite of this neglect. No idea what any of them are as were snapped off the "mother shrubs" by my father maybe thirty years ago.

However, I was told once that the flowers for one year are formed the previous one and so if they are allowed to dry out one summer you get buds and flowers dropping the following spring.
Is it possible that yours is drying out in the summer?

There is also a type of blight - I think that I read about this at Wisley. It's fairly new to the UK and specific to camellia. I think a Google would have the answer to that one.

Good luck.

cornergran - I've repeated your info. sorry.

Think you have most of your answers, ref soil etc.
I keep x2 in very large pots on West Side of garden. Try and water with Rain water if you can.
Mine have been going for years. Good luck