# Tea Plant (*Camellia sinensis*)

Tea Plant is a special plant that makes tea! It has shiny leaves and loves warm, sunny places.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Tea gardens
- **Also known as:** Camellia sinensis

![Tea Plant](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426666/objects/5080.jpg)

## Appearance

The Tea Plant is a glossy-leaved evergreen shrub or small tree with dark green, leathery leaves and fragrant white or pinkish-white flowers. Its leaves are typically oval-shaped with serrated edges, and its delicate flowers feature prominent yellow stamens.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Ericales
- **Family:** Theaceae
- **Genus:** Camellia

## Interesting facts

- All types of tea, like black and green, come from this one amazing plant!
- Its tiny seeds can be pressed to make a special oil for cooking and cosmetics.
- Some ancient tea plants growing wild are more than a thousand years old!
- The world's most popular drink after water is made from its leaves. Wow!

## Special abilities

- **Caffeine Power-Up:** Tea Plant can produce caffeine in its leaves, which helps it defend against insect pests by making them less likely to eat it.
- **Antioxidant Shield:** Tea Plant has special compounds called polyphenols that help it protect against damage from UV light and insect attacks.
- **Year-Round Green:** Tea Plant keeps its leaves all year, allowing it to photosynthesize and grow even during cooler seasons.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 100-1500 cm
- **Spread:** 100-500 cm
- **Flower Size:** 2-4 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Fall to early winter
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — helps flowers produce seeds
- **Pollinates:** Common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — gathers nectar from its blooms
- **Eaten by:** Green tea leafhopper (*Empoasca onukii*) — feeds on young tea leaves
- **Parasitizes:** Blister Blight fungus (*Exobasidium vexans*) — causes leaf blight disease

## Traits

- [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Temperate Rainforest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/temperate-rainforest): This habitat trait identifies species found in temperate rainforests, characterized by significant rainfall, mild temperatures, and dense evergreen or deciduous forests in coastal regions.

## Collections

- [Grasses](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses)
- [Grasses, Shrubs & Bushes](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses-shrubs-and-bushes)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Tea Plant?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Tea Plant?

100-1500 cm

### How wide does Tea Plant spread?

100-500 cm

### How big are the flowers on Tea Plant?

2-4 cm

### When does Tea Plant bloom?

Fall to early winter

### Is Tea Plant edible?

Yes

### Is Tea Plant toxic?

None

### What is Tea Plant's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Botanic Gardens of Toyama](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/botanic-gardens-of-toyama) — Chubu, JP · Park
- [Seonunsan Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/seonunsan-provincial-park) — KR · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

---

Source: [Tea Plant: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tea-plant)