Edible: Leaves - tea, Flowers, Seeds - oil
An evergreen tree. It grows to a height of 10-15 m and spreads 4 m across. Trees are normally pruned into bushes. The stem is slender. The bark is yellowish grey. It has a strong taproot and side roots just under the soil. The leaves are dark green and glossy. They are elongated and leathery. They can be 5-30 cm long. The leaves taper towards the base and the tip. The edges of the leaves have fine teeth along them. The leaf stalks are short. The flowers are white and small. They can occur either singly or in broad flat clusters. The fruit is a woody capsule. It can be 1.5 cm across. There are over 350 named cultivated varieties.
A tropical and subtropical plant. It suits warm temperate climates. It needs light, humus rich soils. Soils should be well drained. A pH less than 6 is best. It requires an open sunny position. It is damaged by drought and by frost. It is common in the wet highlands of many tropical countries. A rainfall over 1,500 mm is suitable. Temperatures in the range 13°-30°C are suitable. In Nepal it grows between 450-1200 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. Hobart Botanical Gardens. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Common Names: Tea