Camellia Trouble: Freeze Damage vs. Petal Blight

A gardener sent photos of a camellia with damaged blooms, wondering if it was petal blight. The diagnosis: cold injury, not disease. Petal blight thrives in mild, humid, rainy conditions during bloom, but the photos were sent in mid-winter, making freeze damage from January temperatures the likely cause. Unfortunately, little can be done except to enjoy the least-affected flowers. For reference, a guide on camellia petal blight is linked.

camellia cold injury

camellia freeze damage