camellia sinensis plant
If you’ve ever savoured a cup of tea, you’ve enjoyed the delightful work of the Camellia sinensis plant. This remarkable shrub, native to East Asia, is the source of all traditional teas: black, green, oolong, and white. Growing a Camellia sinensis plant in your New Zealand garden offers more than an aromatic harvest—it’s a surprisingly attractive evergreen starring glossy, serrated leaves and delicate white blooms. Whether you’re a home grower curious about tea production, or simply drawn to ornamental camellias, the Camellia sinensis plant fits beautifully into both edible and decorative gardens.
Camellia sinensis
Camellia sinensis, commonly known as the Camellia Tea Plant or Tea Shrub, is the variety from which tea is derived. It is an evergreen shrub that produces dainty, single, scented, white flowers with a blush of lemon. It typically reaches 2 m tall and 1.5 m wide. Camellia sinensis is commonly grown as a specimen, clipped into a hedge, added to a mixed planting, used in cottage or 'white' gardens, planted around outdoor living areas, or used as a backdrop for smaller plants.
- Suited to regions:
Subtropical, Temperate - Plant type:
Shrubs - Height:
2.00 m - Spread:
1.50 m - Flowering time:
Spring, Winter - Garden uses:
Containers, Hedging, Living areas, Parks, Pool areas, Specimen - Garden styles:
Backyard, City & Courtyard, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, White
