Camellia sinensis 'Darjeeling'
TEA PLANT SHRUB, DARJEELING TEA TREE
SKU: 416-003
Description
Camellia sinensis is a species of evergreen shrubs or small trees in the flowering plant family Theaceae whose leaves and leaf buds are used to produce tea. Common names include "tea plant", "tea shrub", and "tea tree" (not to be confused with Melaleuca alternifolia, the source of tea tree oil, or Leptospermum scoparium, the New Zealand tea tree).
White tea, yellow tea, green tea, oolong, dark tea (which includes pu-erh tea) and black tea are all harvested from one or the other, but are processed differently to attain varying levels of oxidation. Kukicha (twig tea) is also harvested from C. sinensis, but uses twigs and stems rather than leaves.
The leaves are 4–15 cm (1.6–5.9 in) long and 2–5 cm (0.79–1.97 in) broad. Fresh leaves contain about 4% caffeine, as well as related compounds including theobromine. The young, light-green leaves are preferably harvested for tea production; they have short, white hairs on the underside. Older leaves are deeper green. Different leaf ages produce differing tea qualities, since their chemical compositions are different. Usually, the tip (bud) and the first two to three leaves are harvested for processing. This hand picking is repeated every one to two weeks.
Tea plants prefer a rich and moist growing location in full to part sun, and can be grown in hardiness zones 7 to 9. Tea plants will grow into a tree if left undisturbed, but cultivated plants are pruned to waist height for ease of plucking.
Type: Hardy tree
Hardiness zones: 7-9
Location: Sun or part sun
Seeds per pack: 3 large seeds
Germination: Start these seeds right away for best germination rates. Your planting container should have holes in the bottom for excess water to drain. Soak the seeds for 24 hour before sowing. Sow the seeds just under the surface of a sterile seed-start mix, and water in. Leave them at room temperature (20-22 °C, 68-72 °F) for 8 weeks. Keep moist. Check for growth and they may be growing. If they have not germinated then a cooling period is required. Cover them with plastic and place in a fridge for 4 weeks. Be sure they stay moist. After the cold-moist stratification period they are then brought back to a cool room (15C, 59F) for them to germinate. Germination can be 30-90 days after the warming period, though some will take longer.
Description
Camellia sinensis is a species of evergreen shrubs or small trees in the flowering plant family Theaceae whose leaves and leaf buds are used to produce tea. Common names include "tea plant", "tea shrub", and "tea tree" (not to be confused with Melaleuca alternifolia, the source of tea tree oil, or Leptospermum scoparium, the New Zealand tea tree).
White tea, yellow tea, green tea, oolong, dark tea (which includes pu-erh tea) and black tea are all harvested from one or the other, but are processed differently to attain varying levels of oxidation. Kukicha (twig tea) is also harvested from C. sinensis, but uses twigs and stems rather than leaves.
The leaves are 4–15 cm (1.6–5.9 in) long and 2–5 cm (0.79–1.97 in) broad. Fresh leaves contain about 4% caffeine, as well as related compounds including theobromine. The young, light-green leaves are preferably harvested for tea production; they have short, white hairs on the underside. Older leaves are deeper green. Different leaf ages produce differing tea qualities, since their chemical compositions are different. Usually, the tip (bud) and the first two to three leaves are harvested for processing. This hand picking is repeated every one to two weeks.
Tea plants prefer a rich and moist growing location in full to part sun, and can be grown in hardiness zones 7 to 9. Tea plants will grow into a tree if left undisturbed, but cultivated plants are pruned to waist height for ease of plucking.
Type: Hardy tree
Hardiness zones: 7-9
Location: Sun or part sun
Seeds per pack: 3 large seeds
Germination: Start these seeds right away for best germination rates. Your planting container should have holes in the bottom for excess water to drain. Soak the seeds for 24 hour before sowing. Sow the seeds just under the surface of a sterile seed-start mix, and water in. Leave them at room temperature (20-22 °C, 68-72 °F) for 8 weeks. Keep moist. Check for growth and they may be growing. If they have not germinated then a cooling period is required. Cover them with plastic and place in a fridge for 4 weeks. Be sure they stay moist. After the cold-moist stratification period they are then brought back to a cool room (15C, 59F) for them to germinate. Germination can be 30-90 days after the warming period, though some will take longer.
