Help with my camellia?

[LillyBugg]

I'm in a new house with a beautiful camellia in the garden. It's coming to the end of flowering and now has all these buds/shoots on the top. What are they? When do I cut it back?

I cut it back around October time last year just because it looked to be getting a bit big. But realistically I have no clue what I'm doing. Any help please?

It's new growth. Look up pruning camellias for guidance.

Generally the best time to prune is after flowering. That's the case with a cammelia

You can take off up to two thirds of branches. Or do a less drastic prune but then do it again next year but now's the Time!

So should I cut off all the new bits?! It seems drastic to do that!

Just prune it to the shape you want. You don't need to take all the new growth off unless that's what you wish to do.

Also be aware that camellias are very slow growing, about a foot a year or less on average. And that is quite a mature one. So don't cut it back further than you'd like expecting it to grow vigorously, just prune it to the shape you wish.

I read that you shouldn't prune camellias? Do they flower next year on this years growth? In which case only prune dead bits.

Camellias can be hard pruned if needed, I'm 2 years into doing one in my garden that had become far too overgrown. I'm operating on the 'thirds' system, ie hard prune a third of the bush each year. The third I pruned last year has come away beautifully from the base.

My FiL cut mine back to the ground, much to my dismay. It still came back the next year but it is really slow growing and will take years for it to get back to the size yours is now.

You do need to trim it to the required size straight after flowering otherwise you'll miss your flowers next year.

Thank you everyone for the help, I will cut it back a little once the flowers have all dropped.