Life Span
Perennial
  
Not Available
  
Type
Tree
  
Tree
  
Origin
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
  
China
  
Types
not available
  
Camellia sinensis var. sinensis
Camellia sinensis var. assamica
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
bottomlands, Depression on prairies, ditches, Floodplains, Riverbanks, stream banks, Swamps
  
Hillside, Mountain Slopes, Subtropical climates, Tropical regions
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
  
7-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
9-1
  
8-5
  
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
H1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Oval or Rounded
  
Oval or Rounded
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Height
1,220.00 cm
  
33
Minimum Width
1,220.00 cm
  
14
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Yellow, Brown
  
White, Yellow
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Black
  
Black
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
  
Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Oval with a pointed tip and fine teeth along their edges
  
Oval
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Slow
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Spring
  
Fall, Late Fall, Early Winter
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
  
Not Available
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
Seedlings, Stem Planting
  
Plant Maintenance
Low
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
  
Keep ground moist, Prefer drip-irrigation instead of Over-head watering, Requires a lot of watering, Water when soil is dry
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Prune in the late winter or spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Shape and thin as needed
  
Generally pruned to waist height, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, No need to fertilize every year
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Red blotch, Sawfly Larvae
  
Caterpillars, Moth, Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
  
Not Available
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Not Available
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
Yes
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
No
  
Attracts
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Asthma
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
  
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Erosion control, Wildlife
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
No Medicinal Use
  
Diabetes, High cholestrol, Kidney Stones, Parkinson
  
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
  
Leaves
  
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
  
Preferably used as black tea, Used for producing cooking oil, Used in making beverages
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
  
Container, Edible, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges
  
Botanical Name
BETULA nigra
  
CAMELLIA sinensis
  
Common Name
River Birch
  
Tea, Tea Camellia
  
In Hindi
River Birch
  
चाय के पौधे
  
In German
Fluss Birch
  
Teepflanze
  
In French
Birch river
  
usine de thé
  
In Spanish
river Birch
  
planta del té
  
In Greek
ποταμός Birch
  
φυτό του τσαγιού
  
In Portuguese
river Birch
  
planta do chá
  
In Polish
Rzeka Birch
  
Herbata roślin
  
In Latin
Betula
  
Tea herba
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Tracheophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Fagales
  
Ericales
  
Family
Betulaceae
  
Theaceae
  
Genus
Betula
  
Camellia
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available