Camellia Sinensis - Tea Plant | Living Tea Heritage from the TOMs FLOWer CLUB Collection
Discover Camellia sinensis, the legendary tea plant behind all true teas - green, black, white, oolong, and pu-erh. This elegant evergreen shrub is one of the most culturally significant plants in human history, cultivated for over 2,000 years across Asia.
With its glossy serrated leaves, refined growth habit, and delicate white flowers, Camellia sinensis is not only a functional crop but also a highly attractive ornamental plant for gardens, terraces, and collector plant collections.
All plants offered by TOMs FLOWer CLUB are well-established specimens, carefully propagated from cuttings and grown organically under slow, natural conditions. This ensures strong root systems, compact structure, and robust long-term performance.
Grow your own tea experience at home - from fresh leaves to your own handcrafted cup of tea.
Why Camellia sinensis is so special
• Source plant of all true teas (green, black, oolong, white, pu-erh)
• Over 2,000 years of cultivation history
• Elegant evergreen foliage with glossy leaves
• Delicate, lightly fragrant white flowers
• Long-lived and productive plant
• Suitable for garden, terrace, or container growing
• Highly ornamental and functional at the same time
Plant Characteristics
Botanical name: Camellia sinensis
Family: Theaceae
Origin: China and Southeast Asia
Propagation: well-established cuttings
Cultivation: organic, slow-grown, non-industrial cultivation
Growth: evergreen shrub to small tree
Leaves: glossy, serrated, rich green
Flowers: white, small, fragrant
Position: partial shade to bright indirect light
Soil: acidic, well-drained, humus-rich
Hardiness: moderately frost hardy (variety dependent)
Use: tea production, ornamental plant, collector specimen
Botanical & Cultural Significance
Camellia sinensis is one of the most economically and culturally important plants in the world. Its leaves are processed into all traditional teas, with flavour determined not by the plant itself, but by oxidation and processing methods:
• Green tea – minimal oxidation
• White tea – very light processing
• Oolong – partial oxidation
• Black tea – full oxidation
This makes the plant uniquely versatile and deeply connected to global tea culture, rituals, and daily life.
Care
• Bright partial shade preferred
• Keep soil evenly moist, avoid drying out
• Acidic, well-drained substrate required
• Protect from harsh midday sun
• Frost protection recommended in colder regions
• Responds well to pruning for bushy growth
TOMs FLOWer CLUB Quality
All plants are:
• Well-established and rooted specimens
• Propagated from healthy cuttings
• Organically grown with slow development
• Selected for strong structure and long-term vitality
• Suitable for immediate planting or container cultivation
Ideal for
• Home tea production (“grow your own tea”)
• Garden planting
• Terrace and balcony cultivation
• Botanical and edible plant collections
• Unique gift for plant and tea lovers
Experience the origin of tea itself - with Camellia sinensis from the TOMs FLOWer CLUB collection.
