Tea Blog

As interest in growing tea in the United States continues to expand, it is easy to forget that relatives of the tea plant are already thriving in gardens across much of the country.

The tea plant, Camellia sinensis, belongs to a larger family of flowering plants that includes camellias, azaleas, rhododendrons, and several other ornamental shrubs and trees. While most of these relatives won’t produce a brewable cup of tea, they more than make up for it with evergreen foliage, spectacular flowers, and year-round garden appeal.

With spring just around the corner, it may be the perfect time to explore some of these beautiful members of the tea family.

The Tea Family Tree

According to the American Camellia Society, the tea family is known as Theaceae. Historically, the name was derived from the genus Thea, an older classification once used for tea plants. Today, however, tea plants are classified within the genus Camellia, which has become the most widely recognized member of the family.

Theaceae contains roughly 30 genera and numerous species distributed throughout Asia, North America, South America, and Africa. While Camellia sinensis may be the family’s most economically important member, many of its relatives are prized for ornamental landscaping.

Native North American Relatives

Several members of the tea family are native to the United States.

• Gordonia lasianthus (Loblolly Bay) —
  Native to the southeastern coastal plain, this attractive evergreen tree produces white flowers and thrives in moist environments.
• Stewartia malacodendron and Stewartia ovata —
  These southeastern native species are admired for their distinctive flowers, attractive bark, and seasonal interest.
• Franklinia alatamaha —
  One of America’s most celebrated native ornamental trees, Franklinia is famous for its large white flowers and brilliant scarlet-to-crimson fall foliage. Remarkably, all living specimens are descended from seeds collected in Georgia during the eighteenth century.

The Beauty of Camellias

Among tea’s closest ornamental relatives, camellias may be the most beloved.

Camellia japonica, Alabama’s state flower, originated in eastern and southern Asia but has become a staple of Southern gardens. Thousands of named cultivars exist, offering a dazzling range of flower colors, sizes, and forms.

Popular cultivars include:

• Alba Plena
• Debutante
• Gigantea
• Lady Clare
• Mathotiana
• Professor Charles S. Sargent
• Red Giant

Many camellias perform exceptionally well throughout the southeastern United States. They are also valued for being relatively resistant to deer browsing, making them attractive additions to many landscape settings.

For gardeners in colder regions, Camellia oleifera is known for its impressive cold tolerance and can survive temperatures well below freezing when planted in a protected location.

Camellia Sasanqua

Camellia sasanqua is another popular member of the tea family and is often grown as either a large shrub or a small tree.

Typically reaching between 4 and 15 feet in height, it features glossy evergreen foliage and flowers that range from white and pink to deeper shades of red. Like azaleas and rhododendrons, sasanquas prefer acidic soil enriched with organic matter.

They generally thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 9 and provide welcome color during seasons when many other plants are dormant.

An Interesting Cousin: Ternstroemia

Another lesser-known member of the tea family is Ternstroemia gymnanthera.

This evergreen shrub is often prized for its unusual foliage, which gradually transitions from bright red to dark green as the leaves mature. Growing roughly 8 to 10 feet tall, it is frequently used as a hedge, screen, or topiary specimen.

While its flowers are relatively modest, the plant produces attractive red berries in autumn and performs well in partial sun or shade in USDA Zones 8 through 10.

A Family Beyond the Teacup

It’s fascinating to realize that the tea plant belongs to a family filled with some of the most beautiful ornamental plants grown in gardens today.

While you may not be harvesting leaves for your teapot from a camellia shrub or a Franklinia tree, these relatives of Camellia sinensis offer their own rewards through stunning flowers, evergreen beauty, and seasonal color.

Until your next cup of tea, they may be the closest tea relatives growing right outside your door.

For an extensive selection of camellia species and cultivars, explore regional camellia societies, botanical gardens, and specialty nurseries.

See more of A.C. Cargill’s articles in this archive of tea gardening, history, and lifestyle articles.

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