Common Name:

Plant Type:
Evergreen shrub
Family:
Theaceae (The Tea Family)
Geographic Origin:
China and Taiwan
California Native?:
No

Plant Size:
To 8 feet or more
Landscape/Garden Uses:
shade gardens
Flowering Season:
Spring

Flower Color:
White
Exposure:
Sun or light shade
Soils:
Well-drained soil

Suggested Irrigation:
Moderate watering
Estimated Hardiness:
Hardy to 15 degrees F. or less

Received from Piroche Plants, this ornamental form of the commercial tea plant is a nice foliage shrub. 'Teabreeze' was apparently selected from commercial tea stock, and it makes a fountain 8-15 feet high. The leaves are rather narrow and up to 4 inches long, deep green and highly lacquered in surface. The flowers are white, only about an inch broad, and lightly fragrant. Camellias thrive in sun or shade along the coast but need some shading during summer heat inland. Though they tolerate many soils, they grow best and show the beautiful deep greens for which their leaves are noted in well drained, acid soils, with moderate to regular watering.