Tea-Oil Plant

Tea-Oil Plant Care

Camellia Oleifera

Other names: Oil-seed Camellia, Tea Oil Camellia, Tea-oil Tree

What is the plant

Camellia oleifera is an evergreen shrub or a tree with a dense crown that becomes rounded or vase-shaped in the tree form; it usually grows from 1 - 5 metres tall, occasionally reaching 8 metres.The plant has been cultivated as an oil crop for more than 1,000 years and is grown extensively in southern China and Viet Nam, the oil being used for food, toiletries etc. The plant is also often grown as an ornamental, where it can be used as a hedge.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Part Sun

Temperature

min -5°C

Hardiness zone

6 - 9

Difficulty

Easy

Hibernation

Cold Period

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Pruning
The tea plant is slow-growing and needs little pruning to keep its shape. Remove dead or weak branches from the plant's interior to help air and sunlight reach the plant. If you wish to keep plants small, tip prune after flowering.
Fertilizer
Tea plants are light feeders. A yearly application of slow-release, all-purpose fertilizer in the spring will help the plants prepare for blooming.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
Prefers the partial shade of a light woodland, but becomes more tolerant of full sun as it grows
Soil
Prefers a woodland soil but thrives in a warm open well-drained loam if leafmould is added and is tolerant of clay soils
Temperature
This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c