The Tea Family
What are they?
The Tea family (Theaceae) is - of course - best known for the eponymous bush that provides the leaves for our morning brew. The tea plant itself (Camellia sinensis) is a tropical species and wouldn't survive outdoors in the UK, but the larger-flowered, more ornamental form of other species of camellia make them very popular as garden ornamentals. These shrubby plants originate mostly from eastern Asia and are evergreen with, tough, leathery leaves and typically not tolerant of lime in the soil.
Where are they found?
One species is widely planted in gardens and amenity areas, cemeteries and similar places. Occasionally a plant may be found in the wider countryside as a survivor from a previous planting or as a garden throw-out.
Identification
Several species of Camellia have been grown in cultivation and often crossed to produce a huge range of cultivated varieties. The true parentage of many may be difficult or impossible to determine, but the larger-flowered and most hardy forms tend to be varieties of the Japanese Camellia.
Japanese Camellia Camellia japonica
Introduced from eastern Asia as a garden and amenity ornamental. Unlikely to be found often in the wider countryside, but several bushes are long established in woodland in West Norfolk. Flowers October to May, variously according to variety. Evergreen shrubs, typiclly 2-4m in height. Leaves 5-9cm in length, highly glossy and with a leathery feel. Flowers very variable, single, semi-double or double and in shades of pink, red, white or a mixture of those colours.
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