Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Theaceae

Genus:

Camellia

Species:

Camellia sinensis

USDA Symbol:

CASI16

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub , Tree

Height:

600 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Medium

Bloom Months:

jan,feb,oct,nov,dec

Bloom Colors:

white

Evergreen Shrub:

Yes

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Butterflies & Moths:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Caterpillars:

★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

bees, butterflies

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fragrant:

Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

prefers high organic matter content

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

None required

Germination Time:

21–60 days

Notes:

Seeds lose viability quickly and should be sown fresh. Requires warm temperatures (20-25°C) and consistent moisture for germination.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI