It's definitely better not to plant a Camellia in an east facing position if it will get any early morning sun there after a frost. The flowers will get burnt by the sun and look horrible. However, if the canopy shields it from any sun at all you should be ok, I think.

Have a look how early the sun reaches the border in the morning. You might wait until the frosts start and see how soon the frost thaws out on the part of the lawn close to the border. Agree with A, its sounds risky. Rhododendrons will be fine but Camellias could be disappointing.Unless they are well shaded west facing would be safer.

The sun certainly hits it by 8 or 9 and it's in full sun but I'm thinking the sheltered position below the trees might protect it from frost. I was standing there during heavy rain and it remained dry. I'm hoping come May any chance if frost will be diminished due to the shelter.

Depends when you stood there in the rain - if it was recently, the leaf canopy is at its largest and you may well have remained dry, but that won't be true in May. In a cold spring, delayed leafing out can be expected, and some trees naturally leaf out later than others, so it depends which trees are up there to some extent. Fact is, in a cold spring with late frosts, your Camellia buds will be at risk - but take the risk if you really want a Camellia there. Some years you'll get away with it, some years you won't.

The other factor is the Camellia itself - there's a huge red one round the corner from where I live which is always in full flower in mid March, where all the others I know about are much later, more usually late April or May.

I think you are trying to convince yourself! Its a lovely idea but I think you would regret it.
Another thought - you will need considerably more than a narrow border for either shrub. They will need planting at least 18" from the fence and will also overhang your present lawn quite a lot, especially if you choose ones that will hide the whole height of the fence. Look up heights and spreads at maturity for the varieties you are thinking of. There will only be room for four at the most when they are mature.

Thanks for advice. It's prob hard to tell from picture but the border is acually elevated behind the wall at woodland height and there is paving beneath. It's about 3 foot deep by 20 foot long. Hoping that's enough for rhodedendron s. It's true I am trying to convince myself re camellias as I had them happily flowering in my last garden which was a mile away from current one. However I did have one facing south and it never flowered so might be barking up the wrong tree!

3 foot in width is not enough for most rhododendrons unless you go for ones that are dwarf, even then they do grow...

Three feet deep , not wide MG. Does this mean the soil is three feet deep,laid over concrete paving?Its really difficult to visualise exactly what Maire means. Facing south wouldn't necessarily have prevented flowering but any flowers would be vulnerable to frost damage. If it never even had flower buds it was probably too dry in the summer - they need moisture in summer when the buds are forming.
Maire if you really want a camellia why not plant one in a corner that doesn't get the sun until later in the morning?

Stera I 'think' Marie means wide but we do need clarification... I'd look to planting with smaller shrubs, cyclamen, bulbs and other flowering plants.

I wondered, but "under" could men either. If she wants clematis to cover the fence they will need good shade from something.

I take '3 feet deep' to mean from front to back, with a length (or width, depending on your point of view) of 20 feet. Three feet deep is nowhere near enough for Rhododendron...

Having pulled your sideways image to the desk top and looked at again are those leylandii at the back of the border or am I looking at the wrong border? If they are then you are not going to get anything t grow in front of them...

I've checked several reputable sources and couldn't find anything about an east facing position. They all say dappled sun so I think you will be just fine. Try to find out why we shouldn't grow camelias in an east facing position. I'd really like to know why. The sun isn't even at full strength.

Here are the light requirements for camelias:

'Light: In general, camellias grow and bloom better in partial shade (morning sun and dappled afternoon shade are ideal conditions) with shelter from hot afternoon sun. This is especially true for young plants, which thrive under the shade of tall trees or when grown on the north side of a house. As they grow larger and their thick canopy of leaves shades and cools their roots, they gradually will accept more sun. Shade provided in winter helps reduce cold damage for camellias growing in zones 6 and 7.'

http://www.monrovia.com/how-to-grow-camellias/

Another critical factor is water. Keeping your camelias well hydrated will go a long way to prevent wind burn & sun scorching including during winter months. This means adding a thick layer of mulch to retain moisture. Long Island, New York, where I live is an exception because we have underground aquifers which keep the ground perfectly moist for camelias.

You probably already know why you shouldn't plant Camellia in an east facing situation, Maire, but for the purposes of clarity, its because Camellia forms its flower buds the end of the previous summer, so they're sitting there all winter. If the buds are frozen or frosted when the sun hits them first thing the morning, they drop off.They need a while to 'defrost' prior to the sun hitting them.

But why is such a loathsome mistake not mentioned anywhere? These poor plants must never face east? Is this actually the case? Please cite references beyond your own testimony.

Perhaps you don't get early morning frosts in April/May where you live B.,

https://internationalcamellia.org/camellia-faq

http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/camellia--williamsii-anticipation/classid.635/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/gardening/article-2304505/Monty-Dons-gardening-tips-Camellias-prone-manner-problems-dont-fret-cured.html

Maire: the links above are for the American person questioning the accuracy of the statement 'they should not be planted in an east facing position' rather than you; I'm sure you know its correct already, though of course, read them if you like. If you don't mind the faffing about it involves, you could always erect a 'tent' or shelter to keep the frost off, or use horticultural fleece, then you could likely get away with planting in an east facing position

Paul have a look at this
http://www.gardenfocused.co.uk/shrub/camellia.php

Mg we rarely get frosts that late in the season. It generally comes down from the arctic north or west. The damage is done long before the sun rises. Thanks Stera

See also the link Bamboo put up...

I have and this issue in not mentioned in any of my sources. It must be the UK factor. From what I've seen about the UK, you have mostly clay or chalk - awful stuff that makes for a weak and frail plant that has very low resistance. Everybody has pots galore which isn't the best either.

The problem is also attributed to proper hydration which I covered. We have natural aquifers here which keep the plants perfectly hydrated all the time. This alone makes a vigorous, strong & highly resistant plant.

That being said, still, nothing can withstand an Alberta Clipper. I just make hot chocolate. That works for me - the chocolate.

We do not all garden on chalk and clay I can assure you, how on earth would Bulba. and I be able to grow the huge diversity of alpine plants if we did? It is always difficult to visualise what growing in a different country with a very different climate is like but the buds of camellia's aborting if the sun hits them before they have defrosted is a well known and accepted fact in the UK - whether you live in the south or England or the north of Scotland (which we do).

Trust you enjoyed your hot chocolate, give me an Earl Grey any day of the week.

I think you should come over for a visit Bathgate - you would be surprised by the robustnbess of lots of our plants, even the ones on clay or chalk. Our garden is neither - we have a rather nutrient poor heavy loam here that needs lots of humus adding. The soils of our little area are amazingly varied because of the geological history of the peninsula. Historic volcanic activity threw up a lot of different layers in the distant past.

Stera I was referring to the general comments and conversation here on this site over the past few years. I'm the outsider but that's my feeling. The conversations here in the US are different matters.

Anyone who hasn't been to the UK who is reading this rather dystopian vision of 'weak and frail plants' because of the 'awful' .... 'chalk and clay' (sic) might care to simply look through the thousands of photos on this site of large and healthy plants growing in some beautiful gardens, not to mention checking out online photos of Hidcote, Beth Chatto's gardens, Sissinghurst, Pashley Manor (both on pretty chalky soils) and countless other large and worldwide renowned gardens. Just to get an accurate impression of what plants growing here, and the gardens they grow in, actually look like, which certainly doesn't fit the description of 'weak and frail'... rather the opposite.

As for water supply, generally, other than in the South East and East Anglia, plenty of the stuff falls out of the sky on a regular basis... 80% precipitation annually in many parts is more than enough water.

Sweetie I've been to the UK several times and the comments and conversations I read on this site are genuine and honest. The gardens I've seen in the UK are mostly cultivated. That's not what I'm talking about and I should not have to explain this to you.

I wasn't addressing my comment to you, duckie, so there is absolutely no requirement for you to either justify yourself or respond to it in any way. I never address you directly, in compliance with a 'Commandment' you sent in a 'charming' (not) little PM a long time ago, so I regret it's necessary to do so now. Note, that Commandment cannot be a one way street; it also applies in reverse.

lol

Paul I.m puzzled by what you meant when you said that the gardens you'd seen here were mostly cultivated and those aren't the ones you were talking about.. I thought all gardens were cultivated? What were you actually meaning please?
And surely you would expect to encounter mostly problems on a site that is dedicated to helping solve them? It doesn't mean that everyone eg on chalk has problems.

Stera - Most of the gardening issues I've dealt with on this site stem from the heavy clay & chalky soil you have there (the UK weather doesn't help either). I see a lot of photos of plants that aren't at their fullest potential. The gardens I've seen there are laboriously cultivated and worked.

You (or somebody else) may wish to argue, but I'm talking about the conversations, comments, questions, issues, photos I've had on this site with members and visitors from all over the UK over that past few years. They were totally honest & sincere.

Thank you that clarifies it. No I really really don't want to argue, just to clarify what you meant. You are saying that you are basing your advice on pictures and conversations rather than direct experience of UK gardening? This does explain quite a lot of the disparities.

No, that's not what I'm saying. I'm comparing the UK to the US. based on testimonies of the people who live there. Above is one example; 'camelias must never face east'. There are many other examples.

Lol, that's exactly what I said - or thought I'd said - but lets leave it shall we?

I hope its clear now

Thanks to all for contributions and advice. I've recently moved and am trying not to rush into changing the garden too quickly but it's hard for an impatient person. Perhaps the American experience isn't as relevant to my situation just north of Glasgow in Scotland. Camellias and rhododendron love it here on the acidic clay soil. I'm not mad on pots. They get too wet. It's going to take me a while to learn about the micro climate in this new garden.
To answer the previous respondent, I'm not sure what the hedge is on the left. I've just planted dwarf daffodils along the base which seemed moist enough. The hedge will probably go at some point but will need to make sure my new neighbour is happy for me to replace it with something more interesting. I've ordered my camellias etc but will have a serious re think about situation.
Once again thanks to all for input.

You're welcome good luck to you