Seeds of Tea plant (Camellia sinensis)
Tea plant from seed
Every cup of black, green or white tea comes from this one evergreen shrub. Grown from Indian seed, it gives glossy, serrated leaves and small white flowers with golden stamens in autumn. Seed-grown plants vary a little, as with any seedling tea; there is no named cultivar in this pack.
Seed type
recalcitrant, dies if dried or frozen, sow on arrival
Pretreatment
soak 24 hours
Sowing depth
about 2.5 cm, hilum sideways
Germination
from week 2 to about week 8 at 23-27 °C
Ships from our partner warehouse in India: dispatch within 1 business day, delivery in 7-21 business days. Shipping €6.90, free from €69. See delivery details and the refund and return policy.
How to sow
- Tea seed is recalcitrant: it dies if it dries out or freezes, so sow it as soon as it arrives.
- Soak for 24 hours, then sow about 2.5 cm deep, with the scar on the side, in an acidic, free-draining mix.
- At 23-27 °C the first seedlings appear in about two weeks and the last after about eight.
- Keep young seedlings in deep shade and give them more light after three to four leaves.
Growing in Europe
Tea needs an acid soil, pH 4.5-5.5, like a camellia or rhododendron. Use ericaceous compost in a pot and water with rainwater where tap water is hard. Keep it in a bright spot out of harsh midday sun, and protect young plants from frost. Pluck the top two leaves and a bud once the bush is well established.
Questions
Why must tea seeds be sown quickly?
They are recalcitrant: drying or freezing kills them. Sow on arrival after a 24-hour soak.
How long do tea seeds take to germinate?
At 23-27 °C seedlings appear from about week two until about week eight.
What soil does a tea plant need?
An acidic, free-draining soil with a pH of about 4.5-5.5, as for camellias.