Tea Tree Camellia Sinensis Plant

Camellia sinensis the tea plant.
Tea tree camellia sinensis plant. Camellia sinensis is a species of evergreen shrubs or small trees in the flowering plant family theaceae whose leaves and leaf buds are used to produce tea common names include tea plant tea shrub and tea tree not to be confused with melaleuca alternifolia the source of tea tree oil or leptospermum scoparium the new zealand tea tree. The leaves it produces are elliptic bright green and shiny with slightly hairy undersides. Its leaves are used to produce green tea and china black tea. Read fascinating facts and browse beautiful detailed photos of tea camelia sinensis.
It can grow to become either an evergreen shrub or a small tree of up to 6 metres tall. Camellia sinensis is an evergreen shrub growing to 4 m 13ft by 2 5 m 8ft at a slow rate. The cold hardy tea plant is one of the hardiest of all the camellia sinensis with smaller narrower leaves especially preferred for making green and black teas. It is hardy to zone uk 8.
It is in leaf all year in flower from march to may. Traditionally the new leaves would be picked by hand however commercial production means mechanical harvesting. All tea whether it is green black oolong silver white matcha etc are all from one plant species camellia sinensis. Light sandy and medium loamy soils and prefers well drained soil.
It s the way it s grown and processed that determines the type of tea you end up with. One of thousands of plant species growing at the eden project in cornwall. The species is hermaphrodite has both male and female organs and is pollinated by bees. The leaves are glossy green with serrated edges and are similar in both shape and size to a bay leaf.
Camellia sinensis also known as the tea plant is the plant that is responsible for the beverage we all know as tea. The plant is not self fertile. Camellia sinensis or tea plant is used to make most traditional caffeinated teas including black tea white tea oolong tea and green tea this plant originated near the southwest region of china as an evergreen forest shrub. Camellia sinensis is the plant used in the making of traditional tea.
Tea camellia sinensis plant facts eden project. Your tree has been groomed and will ship ready for you to start making your own tea right away. Sinensis is hardier than assam tea and has relatively small and narrow leaves. Assamica is much taller in its natural state than when cultivated and can grow into a loosely branched tree to a height of about 17 m.