Camellia sinensis

This splendid shrub is the tea of commerce, cultivated for centuries for its use as white, green or black tea. Tea plantations keep their plants pruned to about waist-high, in gardens it generally reaches 8-15'; however unpruned it can become a small tree. The young leaves of this handsome evergreen can be harvested regularly; keep in mind that taking the leaves means you miss out on the gorgeous, deliciously scented white flowers with brilliant yellow centers. It is best to plant more than one so you can have your tea and flowers too! The seeds are pressed for tea oil which is used for cooking and the stems can be used for Kukicha (twig tea). The perfect specimen or hedge plant for the edible landscape. S-PSh/M

If you’ve ever enjoyed a cup of green or black tea then you’ve already enjoyed this plant native to the highlands of the Himalayas. A relative of the ornamental Camellia tree, Tea is an easy to grow shrub that enjoys cool weather and moderate shade. Relatively slow-growing, Tea can easily be maintained at 4 to 5 feet in height and width and makes a great addition to the formal garden. Why not grow and make your own tea at home? Evergreen, lanceolate foliage with serrated edges give way to creamy white and yellow dusted flowers in late summer, contrasting well with their spring flowering cousins, the Japanese Camelias. Surprisingly cold hardy, for anyone cooler than zone 7a this would make a great potted plant for many years. Cold hardy to zone 7a and above, or to 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Tea Plant, Camellia sinensis, is grown throughout Asia and harvested for its tea leaves which are used in making both green and black teas. It is cold hardy to around 0 degrees but because it grows well in a container it can be grown outdoors during the spring, summer, and fall while being kept inside during the winter in colder climates. Ideally plants kept indoors during the winter should be kept cool (below 50 degrees most of the time) and in a bright location - in a garage next to a window is usually sufficient. Use a well drained potting mix as Tea Plants like free draining soil, and fertilize each spring with a slow release pellet like Osmocote.

This is the true tea bush. Yes, indeed, the beverage is also a garden-worthy evergreen shrub. Why isn't everybody talking about what a massive block of leaves this shrub forms? This plant should be used more in gardens! We had two in front of our former house and they were vigorous evergreen screens that never missed a beat in zone 8 heat. The droughts never caused it the flag. We never saw any insects, but we did find a few stray seedlings (seedlings are a boon for potting up for pass along plants). Tea shrubs are fantastic screening evergreens that are also useful - this shrub is obviously better known as the purveyor of caffeine when steeped in water. Tea for brewing can be made in your own back yard by pinching off the new growth and drying these young leaves in the sun. It does take a lot of pinching to make enough for a refreshing pitcher of tea, but you can technically do it rather easily. The flowers aren't much, but they look exactly like small Camellia flowers (because they are!). These white flowers with prominent yellow stamens are mere curiosities and cannot compete with their showy siblings in that regard. Our form is the Korean line of tea.

It's tea time! Harvest your own tea leaves from the young shoots of this famous plant. Depending on how you dry and cure the leaves you'll get black, green or white tea. C. sinensis is hardy in the southern United States, but is perfect as a potted plant when grown in a cool spot indoors during the winter.

SPICE TEA - A dense bushy plant with dark green shiny leaves used in the making of teas. Fragrant white flowers with yellow stamens in late summer to early winter. Hardy zone 8, a good container plant in the north, likes full sun to lt shade, acidic soil.

1-2" white blooms with a large boss of yellow stamens are borne in late summer and early fall on this fine textured evergreen shrub. The dark green foliage is used to make unfermented green tea. A vigorous shrub preferring mid-day shade and a moist, acid, well-drained soil. Size can be controlled by shearing. Black tea (sweet tea), green tea, and white tea are all made from the new growth of the Camellia sinensis plant.

Most of the black teas we drink are derived from the leaves of this very attractive species. C. sinensis will grow to be a small tree or large shrub, up to 20' tall with a 12' spread.