Camellia - when can I plant?

[gardeningnovice5]

I have a Camellia with about six buds in a pot. Can I plant it in the garden now, or should I wait until it has flowered?

My inclination is never to repot or plant out anything which is about to flower in case the disturbance causes it to jettison its flowers, but it won't do the plant itself any harm, and it's better than leaving it until the dryness of summer.

Thanks. That’s a shame - I was hoping to plant it now, but I would like it to flower. I wonder how long it will take to bloom on my kitchen windowsill. I will just have to patient!

Are you sure the buds are flower buds not leaf buds? If they’re still tight, go ahead and plant now.

Camelias typically would be in flower right now (ours is). Being indoors I'd have expected it to be flowering already.

@MereDintofPandiculation good question, I’m not sure. Here’s a photo - what do you think?

I think those are leaf buds, the one on the right is too thin for a flower bud, the one on the left has too pointed a tip. So go ahead and plant.

I plant everything in the autumn and scatter flower seeds about then too.
But if that's not possible you can plant it now but as someone else said it many not flower this year.