Named varieties of tea plant differ in winter-chill needs, ripening time, hardiness, and whether they set fruit on their own — pick one that fits your climate.
Sochi
Ripensspring through summer flushesZones7-9Size8 ft tall by 8 ft wide at 10 years, naturally multi-stemmed
full-bodied black tea, commonly caramel with occasional smoky notes — Seedlings descend from plants developed at the tea research stations of Sochi, Russia. In a Mississippi State University cultivar screening it showed some of the lowest winter leaf damage of nine cultivars tested, at 2.08 percent, and carried the highest caffeine of the group in both spring and summer. Mature leaves average 4.5 by 2.5 inches.
Where to buy ‘Sochi’
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Super Sochi
Ripensspring through summer flushesZones7-9Size8 ft tall by 8 ft wide at 10 years
A selection with significantly larger leaves and more vigorous growth than ordinary Sochi seedlings while holding the same color and similar cold hardiness. Leaves reach up to 8 inches long on vigorous growth, against 4.5 inches for standard Sochi.
Where to buy ‘Super Sochi’
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Large Leaf · Tetraploid
Ripensspring through summer flushesZones7-9Size10 ft by 10 ft at 10 years, easily becoming a multi-trunked tree to 15 ft
favored for white tea because the buds are unusually large — A USDA introduction from the 1970s whose origins the nursery has been unable to trace. Leaves average 6 by 3 inches, large and leathery with pronounced serrations. Mississippi State University measured it as the largest-leaved of nine cultivars at 29.43 sq cm leaf area with the highest shoot weight at 74.60 g, alongside good cold hardiness at 1.90 percent leaf damage in 2019.
Where to buy ‘Large Leaf’
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Small Leaf
Ripensspring through summer flushesZones7-9Size6 ft tall by 6 ft wide at 10 years
mild, favored for green tea — The small-leaved var. sinensis type widely grown in Japan and listed by the nursery as cold-hardy. Medium-green leaves with irregular serrations stay under 4 by 2.5 inches. Mississippi State University recorded low winter damage of 3.85 percent in 2018 and low polyphenols suiting it to green tea, though it had the lowest growth index of the nine cultivars tested.
Where to buy ‘Small Leaf’
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Korea
Ripensspring through summer flushesZones7-9Size6 ft by 6 ft at 10 years
the nursery makes a high-quality roasted green tea from these plants — Seedlings of plants originating on Chiri Mountain, the second tallest mountain in South Korea. Reported by the nursery's customers to be among the most cold-hardy tea plants available. Mature leaves average 4.5 by 2 inches.
Where to buy ‘Korea’
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Chiri Mountain · Jiri Mountain
Ripensspring through summer flushesZones6b-9
Named for its origin in the Chiri, also spelled Jiri, Mountain region of Korea, where the originals were wild collected. Listed among the nursery's most cold-hardy tea selections and expected to handle brief drops below 0 F, though the nursery publishes no USDA zone rating for it. Vigorous in containers, but its in-ground performance is still under evaluation, having only been planted in the nursery's tea garden in summer 2024.
Where to buy ‘Chiri Mountain’
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Dave's Fave
Ripensspring through summer flushesZones7-9Size8 ft by 8 ft at 10 years
among the lowest-caffeine cultivars Mississippi State tested, with low spring polyphenols at 7.98 percent — Selected for rounded leaves and short internodes, with exceptionally dark green leaves that stay shiny as they mature, averaging 4.25 by 2.5 inches. The nursery reports an established plant survived 3 F without injury. Mississippi State measured it second only to 'Large Leaf' for both leaf width (4.76 cm against 4.80) and new shoot weight (63.40 g per 100 shoots against 74.60), with moderate winter damage of 18.15 percent in 2018.
Where to buy ‘Dave's Fave’
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Christine's Choice
Ripensspring through summer flushesZones7-9Size8 ft by 8 ft at 10 years
highest amino acids and L-theanine of the Mississippi State trial at 0.87 percent, a savory profile — Selected from Camellia Forest's own tea garden for dark green leaves that tend long and narrow, averaging 4.5 by 1.75 inches, on a plant that branches abundantly and so offers many shoots to harvest. Listed by the nursery at zones 7b-9 and not among the most cold-hardy, though an established plant survived 3 F with only leaf damage. Mississippi State recorded it as the worst of nine for winter injury at 34.67 percent in 2018, but it recovered well the following year.
Where to buy ‘Christine's Choice’
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Arabian Jasmine
Yaupon Holly
Osmanthus
Wintergreen (Teaberry)