Edible: Seeds, Spice, Leaves - tea, Seeds - oil
A shrub. It grows 3-6 m tall and spreads 3-4.5 m wide. The leaves are small. They are very shiny. The flowers are small and have a sweet scent. The flowers are white but coloured varieties with large flowers have been bred.
It is a subtropical plant. It is frost hardy but the flowers can be damaged by frost. They need moisture but benefit from good warm sun. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. Arboretum Tasmania.
Common Names: Tea-seed oil, Sasanqua tea, Cha hua, Chamei, Kamelia sasangkua, Mei camellia, Perdu teh sasangkua, Sazanka, Shan cha, So, Tra-mai