Tea-oil Tree Camellia oleifera

Camellias are endemic to southeastern Asia and first introduced into the United States in the late 1700s where their bloom season and evergreen leaves made them a southern garden favorite.  Many Camellia hybrids now exist that enhance the beauty, hardiness, or fragrance of the parents making it a showy ornamental that can be grown in many more areas of the country.  It is one of the few flowering plants with species that bring a welcome burst of color in the late fall to winter or early spring. 

Tea-oil Camellia is a small, dense tree or large evergreen multi-trunked shrub in the Theaceae (tea) family that can grow up to 20’ tall.  The species name oleifera is Latin meaning oil-bearing and is widely cultivated in China for its seeds.  It has a unique smooth, velvety, cinnamon-colored bark, glossy deep green leaves, and fragrant, white or pink, single form flowers that bloom in late fall or early winter.

A series of cold winters destroyed or badly injured most collections of Camellias at the U.S. National Arboretum but the tea-oil Camellia showed little or no winter injury making it an important species in the creation of cold-hardy cultivars.  Often the ‘Lu Shan Snow’ or the even more hardy ‘Plain Jane’ (so named because its flowers were not considered that attractive) will be one of the hybrid parents producing some spectacular cold-hardy ornamental Camellias. 

Seed pods begin developing at the time of flowering and when mature will crack open.  The seeds can be pressed into a quality high-temperature oil that is used mostly in Asian countries for cooking. Tea oil is thinner than olive oil with a mild taste, tea-like aroma, and high in beneficial fats.  The seeds can also be used for propagation but the seeds are not true so will not produce an exact duplicate of the parent plant. To get exact duplicates of the original plant, propagation by root cuttings should be used.

In colder climates, it is best to plant Camellias on the north or northwest side of protective barriers such as buildings, larger plants, or hedges to minimize exposure to drying cold winds.  The tea-oil Camellia can endure temperatures as cold as -10 ° F (USDA Zone 6) for brief periods.  Planting in the spring gives the plant ample time to establish itself before dealing with the summer heat stress or the rigors of winter.  This plant requires a partial shade location and will flower best in very light shade.  It prefers acidic (pH 5.5-6.5), moist, well-drained soil.  It is mildly resistant to damage by deer.

Insect and Disease Problems: Camellias are susceptible to viruses and some fungal diseases such as dieback, cankers, flower blight, and root rot.  Watch for scales, aphids, planthoppers, and spider mites which are especially problematic on stressed plants.

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common camellia diseases and insect pests.