Q: My camellias were planted in June and get afternoon sun for 2-3 hours. I have watered them on a regular basis during the summer as with the other plants that were planted. I’ve not fertilized them. What is going on with the leaves?

A: The corky blisters on the back of the leaves pretty well confirm that you have leaf oedema, a swelling of leaf cells in response to too much water. You might have overwatered the site, fearing that hot weather would harm the shrubs.

In any case, I think they will come through just fine. Stop watering and give the plants more sun by limbing up the tree. The symptoms should gradually disappear as the plant grows larger.

Camellia Diseases

camellia oedema

camellia oedema