The formation of the root system and annual root growth of tea plants exhibit a peculiar regularity. Several adventitious roots produced when the plants are young from the skeleton of the future root system. As the root system of clonal plants is generally shallow unlike that of seedling plants, careful management is necessary especially when plants are young for subsequent vigorous growth and for achieving a high yield. The white roots play an important role in nutrient uptake and always account for the largest amount of all aged roots. The white roots in mature plants undergo a cycle of degeneration and regeneration every year and grow most actively in the autumn season when shoot growth is reduced. The white roots produced in the season are considered to be most useful because they display the longest longevity. The lignified thick roots act as reserve organs and are closely related to the tolerance to various stresses. The environmental conditions and the practices peculiar to tea production, including soil hardness, fertilizer application, plucking, pruning and shading, markedly affect shoot growth and also root growth. Emphasis should be placed on studies on the effect of these factors on root growth to increase the yield and improve the quality of tea plants.