Best way to prune a Camelia

Oh dear. I had reason to research this myself recently, and discovered that camellias are supposed to be pruned little and often as they grow, don't like being cut back hard. I have, though, chanced it and cut back by half the one that's sprawled all over the lawn - it may not recover, but what the hell, can't leave it like it is, and we'll just have to get a new one if it can't cope. I haven't been back to that garden for 3 weeks since I did it, so can't tell you what's happened. (I'm not really expecting it to survive though)

Thought so! thank you for the warning.

I have one that I cut back quite regularly when it grows over my lawn. I'm sure if you reduce it in size by 50% in one go you will kill it. Try taking a few of the bigger branches off and see what happens.

We ( at Standen) prune overgrown Camellias back to about a foot and they grow back beautifully. You must be brave though! Why not take out a few branches at a time over a couple of years.

Well what a reponse, thank you all.