🌿 Large Leaf Tea Plant (1-Gallon) — Grow Your Own Green, Oolong & Black Tea!

Camellia sinensis var. assamica (Large-Leaf Tea Camellia) 🌼

Brew from your backyard! This vigorous, evergreen tea camellia gives you the same tender “two leaves and a bud” that craft growers use to make green, oolong, and black tea—plus fragrant white fall flowers for year-round beauty. Plant it once, harvest for decades, and sip the freshest tea you’ve ever tasted.

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🌱 Quick Facts — At a Glance

Category	Details
Botanical Name	Camellia sinensis var. assamica
Common Names	Large Leaf Tea, Assam Tea Camellia
Size at Sale	1-gallon live plant (established shrub ready to transplant)
Mature Size	10–15 ft tall × 6–10 ft wide unpruned; 4–6 ft as a hedge with regular pruning
USDA Zones	7b–10 (best in 8–10; protect in colder edge zones)
Sunlight	Morning sun + afternoon shade (bright dappled light ideal)
Soil	Acidic, well-drained; target pH 4.5–5.5 (like blueberries)
Cold Hardiness	Large-leaf type is less cold-tolerant; protect from wind and frost below 25°F
Growth Habit	Evergreen shrub/tree; dense, glossy, dark-green leaves; takes well to shearing/hedging
Spacing	5–8 ft for hedges; 10–12 ft for open shrubs
Bloom	Fragrant white flowers with golden centers in fall–early winter

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🍃 What You’ll Harvest (Tea Details)

• Flavor & Use:
  • Green tea: fresh, grassy to sweet-nutty
  • Oolong: floral, creamy, complex
  • Black tea: malty, brisk, full-bodiedProcessing method—not the species—creates the tea type.
• What to Pick: “Two leaves and a bud”—the tender top growth.
• Harvest Window (Florida & Southeast):Flushes begin in spring and repeat every few weeks through fall.
• Yield: Increases as shrubs mature (3+ years to full production).
• Boosting Leaf Set: Maintain acidic soil, consistent moisture, and regular pruning to encourage new flushes.

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🌟 Top Benefits & Uses

• Home-grown wellness: Rich in caffeine and antioxidants for a healthy, aromatic brew.
• Landscape & edible: Evergreen beauty with fall blooms and glossy leaves—perfect for tea hedges or specimen shrubs.
• Cultural heritage: Large-leaf tea (var. assamica) originates from Assam, India, prized for strong black teas.

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🪴 Containers, Indoors & Ornamental Ideas

• Container friendly: Start in 15–25 gallon pots with acidic camellia or azalea mix. Refresh soil annually.
• Indoor or Patio: Bright light with morning sun; maintain humidity; avoid hot, dry air.
• Design uses:
  • Formal or informal tea hedge (maintain 4–6 ft).
  • Understory accent for shade gardens.
  • Companion guild: Blueberries, azaleas, turmeric, and lemongrass.

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🧪 How Tea Is Made (Simple At-Home Guide)

• Green Tea: Pick → brief wither → pan or steam → roll → dry.
• Oolong: Pick → wither → partial oxidation → roll → dry.
• Black: Pick → wither → full oxidation → roll → dry.

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🌿 Best Practices for Planting & Care (GreenDreams “High & Tight” Method)

Where to Plant

Choose morning sun and light afternoon shade. Avoid low, soggy spots and reflected heat. Tea prefers acidic, moist, well-drained soil.

Planting Steps

1. Dig a hole only slightly wider than the pot and the same depth.
2. Set the root ball 1–2" above ground level.
3. Backfill with native soil mixed with organic matter and press firmly.
4. Water deeply to settle soil.
5. Mulch 2–3" with hardwood chips or pine straw, keeping mulch away from the trunk.

🎥 Learn our “High & Tight” planting method on YouTube:

👉 https://youtu.be/RRQFY30qdA8?si=rRIcsbLlVAVYotfI

Watering

• Daily for the first week
• 2–3×/week for 4–6 weeks
• Then weekly or as needed; keep soil evenly moist, not soggy

Fertilizing

• Use acid-loving fertilizer (Camellia or Azalea formula).
• Feed after flowering and again mid-season.
• Avoid fertilizing after early fall to prevent tender new growth before winter.

Pruning

• Light pruning encourages new leaf flushes.
• Maintain 3–5 ft height for easy harvests.
• Heavy pruning only after flowering (late fall to winter).

Winter Care

• In zones 7b–8a, add extra mulch for insulation and protect young plants from frost.
• Container plants can be brought under cover during freezes.

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🚑 Troubleshooting & Organic Care

• Tea Scale: Yellowing leaves and sooty mold.
  • Remedy: Improve airflow; treat with horticultural oil or neem.
• Spider Mites & Aphids: Rinse foliage, follow with insecticidal soap if needed.
• Chlorosis (yellowing): Soil pH too high; amend with elemental sulfur or iron chelate.
• Root Rot: Avoid standing water; plant “high & tight.”

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⚠️ Cautions

• Naturally contains caffeine—consume tea in moderation.
• Non-toxic to pets in normal garden settings, but avoid eating non-leaf parts.

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the same plant used for all tea types?

Yes! Camellia sinensis makes green, oolong, and black tea—processing creates the difference.

When will it start producing harvestable leaves?

You can start light harvesting in year 2–3, with full yields after 3–5 years.

Can it grow indoors?

Yes, near a bright window with humidity. Flowering is more likely outdoors, but indoor plants thrive in high light.

Does it bloom?

Yes—beautiful white, fragrant flowers appear each fall through early winter.

Is it self-pollinating?

Yes—flowers are ornamental and self-pollinating; they attract bees and other pollinators.

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👩‍🍳 Global Tea Traditions

• China & Taiwan: Early spring pickings for green and oolong teas.
• India: Large-leaf Assam types yield strong, malty black teas.
• Japan: Steamed green teas for fresh, vegetal flavor.
• At home: Try small-batch pan-frying or oven-drying for simple, flavorful teas.

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✅ Is This Plant Right for You?

Ideal for:

• Tea lovers, edible landscapers, and permaculture growers in zones 8–10 (7b with protection).
• Gardeners seeking evergreen structure and pollinator interest.

Not ideal for:

• Heavy clay or alkaline soils, full-day intense sun without irrigation, or consistently wet sites.

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🛒 Ready to Brew Your Own Tea?

Start your tea journey today with this lush, established 3-gallon Large Leaf Tea Camellia.

Fresh, fragrant, and full of potential—your next cup starts in your garden!

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🚚 Shipping Notes

• Ships Mondays via UPS Ground from Florida.
• Smaller 4" & 1-gallon sizes are best suited for Florida, the Southeast, and Texas.
• Shipping to northern or western states is available but may cause transit stress during extreme heat or cold.
• Buyer discretion advised during seasonal weather extremes.

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🏡 Local Pickup Available

Visit us in person at:

GreenDreams Nursery & Farm

18709 US Hwy 41, Spring Hill, FL 34610

🕒 Tues–Fri 9 AM–5 PM | Sat 8 AM–3 PM

Come explore our edible, medicinal, and native plant collections in person! 🌿