Tea Plant

Camellia sinensis

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

Habitat: Tea gardens

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.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderEricalesFamilyTheaceaeGenusCamellia

Tea Plant

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

Tea Plant can produce caffeine in its leaves, which helps it defend against insect pests by making them less likely to eat it.

Tea Plant has special compounds called polyphenols that help it protect against damage from UV light and insect attacks.

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

Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.

Evergreen

Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.

Fruit Bearing

Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.

Medicinal

Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.

Edible

Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.

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.