Camellia sinensis - the tea tree or plant (edible)

Camellia Sinensis, also known as the tea tree, tea plant, or tea shrub, belongs to the Camellia family with evergreen foliage. The leaves are glossy green with serrated edges. Flowering is usually prevented during cultivation by harvesting the leaves, forcing the plant to constantly produce more buds.

The leaves, buds, and fruits are used for tea preparation, as well as an ingredient in some medicinal preparations. The developing fruit has a green shell (which turns brown when mature) and a single row of seeds. The seeds can also be used to obtain tea oil.
Different teas made from the Camellia plant have a wide range of medicinal properties and can be consumed either hot or cold.

Cold tolerance: down to -15°C

If you decide to plant Camellia sinensis outdoors, it is necessary to choose a location sheltered from wind/snowstorm/air currents and to protect the plant during the first years.

The tea tree is successfully cultivated in open plantations in areas where temperatures do not frequently drop below -10°C, or in protected areas/cold greenhouses. Although it technically tolerates down to -15°C, long-term exposure to such temperatures can cause significant damage to the plant.

Plants currently available in the horticultural trade are generally descendants with significantly improved cold resistance – currently, there are plantations even in mountainous areas at very high altitudes where the weather is quite harsh. Such plantations were established to obtain plants with certain characteristics – for example, due to low temperatures, plants grow more slowly, but caffeine content is higher, and more black tea specialties can be produced.

Height including pot: approx. 20-30 cm
Pot diameter: 10-12 cm
Check the complete care guide on the blog.