While not an expert, I have successfully tried just about every way to kill a camellia. (!) Don't give up on it yet. My 2-cents worth is that the problem is in the root system, its not working right -- the leaves are starving, the buds are dry, and last year's growth is stunted. With an April planting, it may have gotten a little hot and stressed in the summer before the roots had time to become well established. It may have been planted during the spring growth when a camellia's roots don't like to be disturbed.

I would pick off all the flower buds, and give it a pruning, especially all of the weakest limbs, to take some stress off the roots. Then keep it well watered this year, and hold off on the fertilizer for a year, and see if it adjusts and strengthens up. Maybe give it some iron foliar spray.

Its hard to tell from the photo, but is it still planted high or has it sunk? It needs to be high, slightly above grade, with no additional dirt on top of the root ball, just a light mulch. (The surface roots need to be able to get some air.) If it has sunk, I would pop it up, brush off any dirt covering the top of the root ball, add some good soil mix with some triple superphosphate to stimulate root growth. I have slowly killed several by too-deep planting.

If planted high enough and if you keep it well watered this year, I predict it will start to bounce back. :)

ForrestAL,

THank you for the response. This gives me SOMETHING to do as I have been sitting inside pining about how I'm going to revive this baby.

Very Grateful,
Sheila

It seems to me that it is over fertilized.
I think you do not need to do any thing this moment,
nature raining will rush out the fertilize and the
camellia will recover itself. But do not give it
too much fertilizer next time.
But the way, the camillia forest nursery is just in
your region, the Chepal hill, why do not drive to and
ask them? Kei May and her people are very knowledgeble
and nice.
http://www.camforest.com/

Looks like sunburn to me. The sun dehydrates the leaves before the roots warm up enough to send moisture to them. Happened to some of my seedlings this year. Notice the inner, shaded leaves are still green.

-christian