Flower and Petal Blight

Brown spots appear on camellia petals, eventually covering entire flowers as they wilt and drop. Ciborinia camelliae thrives in the wet Pacific Northwest climate. You'll see the fungus overwinter in spent flowers on the ground. Remove fallen blooms thoroughly, rake debris, bury or compost plant material properly, and consider resistant sasanqua cultivars for fall flowering.

Try several methods over a few seasons. Carefully remove and destroy any diseased camellia flowers. Remove affected tissue promptly, cutting into healthy wood. Improve air circulation by thinning dense growth and avoid overhead watering during susceptible periods. Preventive fungicide applications may help where the problem recurs annually.