Knowledgebase

Camellia pruning #937066

Asked June 28, 2026, 12:36 PM EDT

This year the buds on our camellias remained unopened. Can we prune behind the buds towards the center of the bush and have blooms next year? Thanks

Anne Arundel County Maryland

Expert Response

Unopened buds died and can be removed if they haven't already fallen off. They may have died due to the late April freeze, drought, or some other environmental factor. (Botrytis is a common fungus that can affect flowers and unopened buds, but earlier this year it was generally too dry for outbreaks.) You don't need to remove the failed set of buds in order for the plant to flower normally next year (provided environmental conditions cooperate), but removing any dead tissue/growth is helpful to avoid secondary decay.

Miri
Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied June 29, 2026, 10:04 AM EDT

Loading ...