The removal process
Every year, armed only with bare hands - no tools or equipment necessary - staff at the Dunedin Botanic Garden regularly and carefully deadhead the camellias.
The spent flowers are easily removed while taking care not to damage other flower or growth buds.
The best way to remove spent or damaged flowers is to hold the stem at the base of the flower, then give the flower a gentle twist.
All camellias are different in how tightly they hold on to their flowers.
Some come off with a light shake of the branch while others need both hands to remove each flower and make sure no damage is done.
Why bother?
Like all flowers, camellias don't last forever. Rain and wind can create bruising by knocking flowers around. Diseases spread by airborne spores, like botrytis and camellia petal blight, result in brown patches.
Deadheading a camellia bush brings it back to full glory instantaneously and it's very satisfying. It also allows the next wave of flower buds to open unobstructed.
- Leaving the shattered petals or deadheaded flowers under the camellia bush can create a pretty carpet of colour.
- Most autumn and winter-flowering camellias have flowers that shatter naturally and don't need deadheading.
- Camellia flowers last much longer if the plant is in a sheltered area.
• Marianne Groothuis is curator of the camellia collection at the Dunedin Botanic Garden.
