I hope Luis will reply to this post since I don't live in TX, and have no local knowledge of nurseries there.

In the meantime, here is a link to an online camellia nursery that sells Tea plants (and for DIY-er types they also sell Camellia sinensis seeds). I didn't see that they have any restrictions on shipping to TX, but you may want to contact them to be sure.

Good luck,
Virginia

Here is a link that might be useful: Camellia Forest web site

This post was edited by vmr423 on Thu, Jun 26, 14 at 1:03

CAMELLIA FLOWER BLIGHT

PEST: Camellia Flower Blight (Sclerotinia camelliae)

STATES REGULATED: All areas outside the state of Texas.

MATERIALS REGULATED: Camellia plants that are potted or balled with soil on roots; flower buds showing color; open camellia flowers; or cut camellia flowers originating from a quarantined area.

RESTRICTIONS: Quarantined articles originating from quarantined areas are prohibited entry into Texas except, camellia plants with buds showing no trace of color may enter the state of Texas provided a certificate issued by an authorized inspector of the state of origin accompanies each shipment stating that no color is showing in the buds of the plant.

Ah, ok. Makes sense. Thanks for posting! Do y'all know if anyone has had much luck with tea here in Texas? I'm on the gulf coast, 9a zone.

Hello, colonel_kernel. Several years ago, I was able to buy a small-leafed 1.5-2' high tea plant locally at a nursery called Calloway's (called Cornelius in Houston).

The plant did not make it through the summer-fall season though. If you plant one, I would add extra care and effort to monitor soil moisture levels. And additional hand watering on the first years may be needed until it becomes established.

I planted two different camellias in the same general protected area that year and the tea plant was the one that did not make it. The other one was a large leaf japonica. The japonica was planted in early Spring whereas the tea plant was planted in the summer months. Very disappointing. That may have been the year when I decided not to plant anything whatsoever during the hot season.Hee hee hee.

So, go for it! I would recommend an extra effort monitoring it in Year 1's summer and if possible, planting it very early so it can handle our hot temps asap.

I have not looked for them online. Maybe a Texas-based nursery might carry it or just drive to East Texas and see if anyone carries it.

When Sudden Oak Death (AKA, Ramorum blight) became a well known issue in California, Texas instituted restrictions in the importation of camellias & other selected plants from "the outside".

When buying sinensis, you may want to order more than one shrub so as to have an adequate supply of leaves, especially if you drink a lot of tea or the plant is small to begin with.

You should be fine in Z9 as long as it is exposed to afternoon shade{{gwi:807}} by 11am-12pm-ish and protected from our summer drying winds. It may do better in environment where you water with a sprinkler as opposed to drip irrigation since drip will not moisten the top's tiny roots.

Luis

This post was edited by luis_pr on Sat, Jun 28, 14 at 3:25

I would still check with Camellia Forest if you can't find it locally. It isn't illegal to export these plants to TX, but inspection certificates are required so many nurseries won't go for the extra effort/expense.

But if CF doesn't say on their site that they don't ship to TX, it's just possible that they think it's worth jumping through a few regulatory hoops in order to reach the TX market. I figure it's worth a phone call if you can't find it locally, but local is certainly easier!

Good luck,
Virginia

Indeed, I tend to drive to Tyler in East Texas now and then and use the trip to buy roses/azaleas/etc in East Texas nurseries like Harris Nursery and Chamblee's.

Camellia Forest Nursery has a great selection of C. seninsis.

Sorry, I meant Camellia Shop Nursery