Ornamental plants should first and foremost be beautiful, which can also be said of the camellia. In the family garden, however, other characteristics such as toxicity and the need for care also count. Here the camellia can at least score with its non-toxicity for humans.
The camellia that we have as an ornamental plant should not be confused with the camellia that is used for tea production
However, the camellia is somewhat demanding in terms of location and care. Nevertheless, it is very suitable for the family garden, provided you plant the shrub in a bright spot, well protected from wind and frost, with slightly acidic soil. Here the need for care is kept within manageable limits. However, the camellia is not hardy and depends on adequate winter protection or a frost-free winter quarters.
Camellias are said to be slightly toxic to horses because of the caffeine they contain. However, for an appreciable effect, the animals would have to consume such large quantities that damage is very unlikely. So enjoy the blaze of color during the flowering period instead of worrying unnecessarily.
Can the camellia be used to make tea?
Although the camellia (bot. Camellia japonica) is actually related to the tea bush (bot. Camellia sinensis), it is only cultivated as an ornamental plant. Allegedly, the Chinese sold the camellia to Europeans as a real tea bush. With this ruse they wanted to maintain their monopoly on tea. In fact, the camellia seeds are said to contain oil that was used in earlier times to protect Japanese knives and weapons from corrosion.
The essentials in brief:
- related to the tea plant
- non-toxic to humans, but not suitable for tea production
- may contain caffeine
- classified as slightly toxic to horses
tips
You can plant the magnificent flowering camellia in your family garden without any worries. However, since it is not hardy, ensure adequate protection against cold wind and frost.