Yellow Big Leaf Tea Plant

Camellia sinensis var. sinensis f. macrophylla ‘Yellow Tea’

Plant Details

USDA Cold Hardiness Zones: 7a-9b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Shrub

Species: Camellia sinensis

Height at Maturity: 10-15′

Width at Maturity: 6-10′
Spacing: 5′ for solid hedges; 12’+ for space between plants

Flower Color: White with Bright Yellow stamens

Flower Size: 2″

Flowering Period: Fall

Flower Type: Single

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Glossy Dark Green with Yellow variegation

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: No

Berry Color: NA

Sun Needs: Morning Sun with Afternoon Shade or Filtered Sun, All Day Filtered Sun

Water Needs: Average, Lower when established

Soil Type: Clay (amended), Loam, Sand (amended), Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist

Soil pH: 5.0 – 6.5 (Acid)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Resistances: Deer – more info, Drought (when established), Heat, Humidity

Intolerances: Direct Afternoon Sun, Constantly Soggy Soil

Attracts: Visual Attention

Description

The Yellow Big Leaf Camellia is a unique, fast-growing shrub or small tree that offers both beauty and an endless supply of leaves for brewing your own flavorful, nourishing tea. The variegated, extremely large evergreen leaves are glossy dark green with large splotches of creamy yellow – a sight to behold. In fall, the plant explodes with delicate, fragrant, single flowers with a patch of yellow stamens surrounded by pure-white petals. This is a plant that is sure to make a statement in your gardens that any guests will immediately be drawn to.

The tea you make from the leaves of your homegrown tea plants will be much fresher and tastier than what you buy at the store!

SEE: How To Make Green, Oolong and Black Tea From Tea Camellia Plants

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing to approximately 10 to 15 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide, Yellow Big Leaf Tea can be grown as a large shrub or lower branches can be removed to form a highly attractive small tree. As a shrub, it is ideal for use as a specimen, hedge or background plant, in groupings, and is especially nice as a corner plant or espalier (trained to grow flat against a wall) in home foundation plantings. As a small tree, it makes a fine focal point specimen in landscape borders or home foundation planting. Grows well in containers that can be situated on decks and patios. A fine addition to cottage gardens woodland borders. Also suitable for containers that can br brought indoors for winter for those who live and garden above USDA Zone 7a. Find Your Zone

TIP: If you are a tea lover and enjoy brewing your own, Yellow Big Leaf Tea is sure to please.

SEE: How To Make Green, Oolong and Black Tea From Tea Camellia Plants

Suggested Spacing: 5 to 6 feet apart for solid hedge; 12 feet or more apart for space between plants

Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a, where Yellow Leaf Tea Plant is not reliably winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.

Growing Preferences

Yellow Big Leaf Tea Plant adapts well to various soil types however prefers a moist but well-drained acidic soil that is rich in organic matter. Constantly soggy soil is a slow killer. In general, most camellia bushes grow and bloom better in partial shade with some shelter from the hot afternoon sun. Morning and evening sun are ok.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Camellias.

How To Make Green, Oolong and Black Tea From Tea Camellia Plants

Planting Camellias

Pruning Camellias

How To Fertilize & Water Camellias

How To Espalier Plants & Trees

*Espalier (pronounced: ih-spal-yay) …an ornamental shrub or tree that has been trained to grow flat against a wall, fence, or other vertical, flat surface.

Plant Long & Prosper!

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Questions? Contact Us

You won’t be disappointed with this plant – mine arrived in beautiful, lush condition. I look forward to making tea with the leaves and will add photos when it blooms!———————————————-Hi Barbara, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Yellow Big Leaf Tea Plant. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens