Monrovia® Tea Plant

Camellia sinensis

Monrovia® Tea Plant is a full-sized evergreen shrub an upright habit and glossy serrated leaves that stay deep green year-round commonly used for teas.  Small but highly fragrant white flowers with yellow stamen bloom from early fall into winter which attracts butterflies.  Best blooms occur in partial sun and acidic, well-drained soil.  

MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Medium maintenance. Too much water retention can increase susceptibility to fungal diseases, including root rot, black mold, blight, canker, anthracnose, and leaf spots.  Watch for aphids and spider mites.   Yellowing leaves indicate acidity too low. Fertilize monthly in spring and summer. If desired, remove all but one bud from each cluster to increase the size of the flower. Prune immediately after flowering.

LANDSCAPE USES: Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Woodland Gardens, Wildlife Gardens, Naturalized Areas, Screening, Foundation Plantings, Hedges, and Containers.

COMPANION PLANTS:   Azalea, Flowering Cherry, Bleeding Heart

IMAGES: KATHERINE WAGNER-REISS, Camellia sinensis in the Morris Arboretum 02, CC BY-SA 4.0, (2) KENPEI, Camellia sinensis1, CC BY-SA 3.0

*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown