They grow very well in Virginia. Planted mine in the spring, watered occasionally but not regularly. They did well in the hot Virginia summer. Perfect climate for tea, similar to Japanese tea regions.
Hey there, I’m in Shenandoah valley VA. Looking to grow some, could you point in me in a good direction to find seeds for camellia sinesis? Do you put seeds directly into ground? Any advice? Thanks !
I started with a few. They did so well, I took down a hideous red-tipped photina hedge and have been filling that space with cuttings. Layering is a new technique for me, which I definately will try. They work great in NW Washington, marine climate. Thanks for the video.
I can't wait to have my own place! I want to plant some of these guys and experiment with different home made teas. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us! 😁😁
Lonely introduction! I have a Sochi variety that's great for W Oregon, and over a decade old. I was delighted to have tea that included the blossoms at the Tao of Tea, at the Chinese Garden in downtown Portland, so now harvest and dry some of the blossoms. I got a tea Chrysanthemum plant from herbalist friends this summer, which should begin blooming on Halloween!
Thank you for commenting and all the details. I hadn't thought of using the blossoms. My husband is an acupuncturist so we're very interested in all kinds of tea. We love the Chinese Garden in Portland. By the way, I would have responded to your comment sooner but we've been traveling and filming!
@@SuzyDinglesGarden oh, how fun you got to travel! ! I have a number of Friends who are LAc - I'm an LMT (38 years) and Reikk master - love Chi practices! And tea!! Thanks for your sweet response
I just want the caffeine. Brain food. I live in a desert, water is precious, sunshine is abundant. Zone 8b. Wonder if these will work. I like your style. Thanks for keeping the music low.🌴
Thanks for bringing up the issue of water preservation. No matter where we live, especially in drought prone areas, water management skills are good to consider. I'll go into some detail because this is such an important issue. Water is key to a Camellia surviving, especially in a hot climate. Ideally, it wants about 50 inches per year, but it's good at collecting moisture in the soil, having both fibrous roots and a deep tap root. Mine naturally gets about 35 inches from rainfall and does fine because it's in part shade. Here are some other tips to help increase moisture retention, hence, less water needed. When planting from containers, a small plant is best because it has a better chance of quickly adapting, as long as it's watered well while getting established. Add several inches of mulch (but not directly against the trunk). Deliver the water with either "under mulch" drip irrigation or deep in the soil using sub-soil vessels (clay pot, tubes, etc). Create a soil berm outside the drip line (outermost edge) to trap surface moisture. Plant short native shrubs outside the drip-line to provide structural shade to the soil below the tree. Lastly, if you're feeling really adventurous and have even a small pond, look into the ancient method called Chinampas, floating gardens. It's fascinating! I hope this helps. Thanks also for the kind words.
What is your lowest temperature for winters ? In my country in winter have -1c° ,( it's ussualy) . (But for some days) , but unusually may be to -20 c°( only for some winters) . Can l grow this plant??
I have a tea plant in a container in my garden Assam variety. Its been outside all winter here in the UK. I actually got another plant from it that grew from a seed that fell off the main plant. They like Ericaceous soil/compost.
@@SuzyDinglesGarden the seed fell off the main plant into the same pot, I didnt do anything to the seed. I have heard seed needs to be fresh though for germination.
@@louiseahmedtropicalplantgr5000 Good to know that you didn't need to go through any complicated process. No doubt, this will encourage folks to try propagating from seed.
I drink green or black tea almost every day. I’ve been growing some herbs that I often use and it’s been so fun! Hopefully I’ll be able to start growing this as well. Where do you think you can get a plant of this from?
The Northwest maritime area is ideal for growing tea. Higher elevations might require protection during the winter. If you're still on the fence, try it in a container. In the Northwest, shrubs and trees tend to grow larger than expected, but camellia's grow fairly slowly, so don't worry about it taking over the garden.
Thank you so much for sharing this with us! I was hesitant to get a plant before but I'm much more comfortable now. Some quick questions though and I'm just asking for your personal experience. I don't know if it snows in your are but what might you do to protect your plant if it gets to cold. Also, I was wondering what fertilizer you use?
What great questions. The fertilizer is made for acid loving plants (the same kind used for blueberries and rhododendrons) and I use whatever organic/natural brand is on sale at the time. Right now I'm using Down to Earth with good results. The snow/cold question is a bit more complicated but let's cover some key points. First, Camellia sinensis var. sinensis is more tolerant of cold weather (hardy to USDA Zone 6) and C. sinensis var. assamica is hardy to zone 7. That said, the micro climate in your yard may be colder or warmer. Also, how quickly the cold comes and how long it lasts are huge factors. A quick cold snap can kill a plant whereas it can survive the same low temperature if the weather gradually gets cold. Snow can insulate the plant too, adding further protection. Some people wrap plants to further protect from cold. Overly wet or overly dry soil contributes to the inability to survive a harsh winter. Please feel free to ask more questions, especially if I've confused you! Good luck and I'd love to hear how this works out for you.
I'm in W Oregon and have a Sochi variety, which is originally from the Black Sea, and does fine in snow! Mine is just N of a fence, in partial shade, and is about 10 years old. I prune it in a "table top" to increase the yield, and process the leaves for tea several times a year. I also love the flowers (about the size of strawberry flowers) and harvest those for tea as well!
Thank you for the video. Have you tried to make tea yet? How was it? I heard you would need a lot of these tress to make it get much quantity. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Hi. Yes, I've made tea from the leaves (lightly "pan fried" then dried) and I liked it enough to recommend growing it. You're right about the quantity needed. I think that's why the growers shape the trees for maximum leaf production (something I haven't done yet). They also continue to harvest through the year as the new leaves grow. I've heard that the first harvest is considered the best. Thanks for reaching out. I'm sure other folks were wondering the same thing.
I also harvest mine, and benefit from an extra harvest from a friend with 9 plants, who showed me how she processes it - both pan frying (no oil), kneading, and quick rounds in a hot oven!
Yes indeed it can be grown in a container. As with all potted trees and shrubs, keep the top growth pruned and fertilize twice a year. Also, refresh the top soil every year and, ideally, prune the roots every 3 to 5 years. Thanks for your question!
my dream is to grow a tea plant, i live in northwestish part of texas (zone 8b). the hardest part is that it get soooo hot. like the summer gets no rain and it is always over 95° for three months. we also don't have a ton of shade.
Thanks so much for the video. I really want to have a camellia sinensis because matcha tea is very expensive where I live but I don't know if the area is good enough for it, I live in the Northeast part of Mexico and the weather is either too hot (around 40°C ) or too cold (around 0°). I was wondering if there is a way to keep the plant indoors so that I could create a nice environment for it
I'm so glad you asked this question. Plant instructions are mainly generic and don't account for specific micro-climates. Inside could work as long as it isn't against a hot, sunny window. In the northern hemisphere, an east or north facing window is best. It might not produce flowers, but I assume that's not an issue since you want the leaves. If your inside air is dry, provide humidity. Whether inside or outside, keep it moist (especially in dry conditions) and feed with an acid-based fertilizer. A healthy plant will better resist bugs and disease. That said, outside would be best, even if only for part of the year. I think you'll find that the high temperatures won't be a huge problem if you protect it from both the sun and wind, which dries out the leaves, and also water it well. If the plant goes inside for the winter, make sure you gradually introduce it over a few weeks, outside during the day, inside at night. Do you have any pine trees to shade it? That could make good outside protection. Hope this helps! Thanks for watching!
I'm in Prince George, a town in a central part of BC, in Canada. I do not expect Camellia sinensis to do well here - we're reputed to be equivalent to US zone 4B. However, I would give it better odds than Coffea spp., that's for sure.
Great question. Harvesting (and processing) is both and art and a science. For the best results, harvest new, tender leaves in spring and fall. The different pickings can have differences in sweetness, flavor, and fragrance. Some people also harvest in summer too, but that could stress the plant if it was also harvested in spring. Of course, it's always fun to experiment!
Love your tea plant and I love to grow tea plants, I have tried so many times but they all died on me. I have ordered them online, they were ok for a while but they all die later on in the one-gallon pot, maybe I should just plant them in the ground instead. I want to give it a try again, do you have small plants for sale?
@@SuzyDinglesGarden they did turn yellow and brown on the leaves then fallen off all the leaves, and the branch turned black and died. I think it’s the roots problems. What kind of soil do you use and how you water them ? Thank you 🙏
@@gardenofreflections I've been pondering your situation and will get back to you when I have a better idea of the possible causes. What's your general climate and area? High humidity? Did you order from a place with a good reputation? Some places grow from seed, which can produce inferior offspring. It's best to get a plant from the cuttings of a healthy parent. Hope this helps for now.
@@SuzyDinglesGarden Thank you for your reply. I live in Northern California which is the air is dry. I ordered the plants from Etsy which is he sales Thousands of tea plants. I think I may be overwater it and apply the fertilizer in the wrong way. The leaves dry out in the tip then slowly were fall of all the leaves and young tip of branch turn black then it would die . The roots were rotted 😤😫😓😢
The chinese variety (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis) is hardy to usda zone 6 so it might be worth experimenting, depending on your specific microclimate. If you do, I like your idea of providing natural protection from wind and ice. Just make sure it gets enough water if there's root competition from evergreens. Mine is thriving under the treeline of a big fir tree. Happy gardening!
The more sun the more water needed, but you could try creating some shade. The temperature range will be good for leaf production, possibly even ongoing new growth. 60 degree night temperatures might not be low enough to trigger flowering/seed production. All in all I'd give it a try and make adjustments if needed. Thanks for the question!
Interesting. That is highly unusual. If you're inclined to answer some questions, I'm really curious about the specifics. Were they planted in ground? Grown in sun or shade? What were the microclimates like, dry/moist, etc? Did you get from reputable grower/retailer? Were they purchased bare root? How big were they?
Hi. Yes, camellias can handle clay soil if the drainage is good, meaning free-draining with no standing water. A raised bed or planting on a mound might help. Also make sure the soil Ph is acidic and you should be fine. Happy gardening!
The end of our growing season about October 1st ish up here in Western New York gets super soggy. Should I do a planter and bring it in doors at that point or can it sustain winter?
What's your USDA zone? Below 7 is a risk to grow it outside, especially coupled with soggy soil. If you're USDA 7 or above, you could plant on a mound to improve drainage. Otherwise, yes, plant in a container and in winter move to a cool, sheltered area with some natural light.
That is my favorite tea! This video is indeed about growing but not the complexities of processing. Thanks for reminding me to someday share what I've learned so far, especially during my recent trip to India. Stay tuned for a Blue Tea video! It's amazing.
My hardy zone is 5(Chicago) there is one for sale in full bloom near me just like you have in the video so I'd imagine in July its worth buying at $40?? I'll just put it in my basement in Oct/Nov,Whats your opinion????
Hi Dale. I agree that zone 5 is too cold for Camellia sinensis without protection, but worth trying, especially if you can provide some light in your basement. Does it have a window? If not, a plant light would help. Otherwise, keeping it outside is possible but would require multiple layers of protection and/or the perfect microclimate. If you also take cuttings you'll have backup plants. I'd love to know how it goes if you go for it! BTW, mine blooms in fall but greenhouse raised plants could bloom earlier.
Hi James. I got mine at a farmers market. Do you have a Master Gardener program near you? Or an arboretum? If so, ask them about sources. A nursery specializing in sustainable/organic gardening might be able to help. Whereabouts do you live?
Thanks for pointing this out. It's a topic well worth covering. Until can make a video, I can say that I take stem cuttings when I want a genetic duplicate of a particular specimen, however seeds are fun to experiment with because they're genetically new plants.
@@SuzyDinglesGarden - thanks for valuing my comment. Its just that it is extremely difficult for me to come by cuttings. No one I know grows camellia s.
@@joedee1863 I'll keep this in mind as I gather information. For now, if you can find a Permaculture or Regenerative Agriculture teacher in your area they will likely have a source. A Botanical Garden is another option. I'm thinking outside the box but if there's a Buddhist Monastary or Asian Garden they might have a tree. Don't give up! Good Luck!
@@SuzyDinglesGarden - thanks for the reply and suggestion. Unfortunately the local Budhist temple don't grow tea. And the nearest permaculture centre is about 150 miles away and they don't grow tea either.
hello! i’ve been looking everywhere for a reliable source of seeds/starts for camellia sinensis, but i can’t seem to find anything locally (zone 8a, southeast). do you have any tips or resources i could follow to find some?
So sorry I didn't reply sooner...been busy helping my kitty after surgery. I've not seen seed for sale but here are three nurseries to call: Raintree, Burnt Ridge, or One Green World. Since cuttings are faster to grown and reliable duplicates of the parent plant, I suspect seeds will be hard to find. Also try the UW or other arboretums. They might have shrubs that set seed (like mine does every so often) and perhaps they'll give some to you! Please let us know if you find some.
