Ceanothus americanus - New Jersey Tea

Morphology/Growth Habits: Deciduous, dense shrub that is native to eastern and central North America. Low growing with a rounded crown, typically grows to 3 feet tall and 5 feet wide. In early summer it is covered with fragrant clusters of creamy white flowers. Nitrogen-fixing and drought tolerant. 

Height: 2-3 ft

Light: Full Sun-Part Sun

Moisture: Medium-Dry

Bloom color: White

Bloom time: June-August

Habitat/Best Environments: Grows in oak savannas, meadows, and woodlands. Can tolerate dry and rocky soil. Once established, its deep roots make it great for erosion control but poor for transplanting. 

Ecological relationships: The roots of New Jersey Tea have a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil, meaning it makes more nutrients available for your plants!

A host plant for Spring Azure, Summer Azure, and Mottled Duskywing butterflies, New Jersey Tea is also attractive to hummingbirds, which eat the tiny insects that busily pollinate the small flowers. Many mammals and birds also love to feed from this plant, so protection may be needed in early stages if deer or other animals are known to visit your garden.

Specialist pollinators (meaning these pollinators rely heavily on this plant for food/pollen) are two kinds of mining bees: Pseudopanurgus pauper and Pseudopanurgus virginicus.

*Dried leaves can be used to make tea. Decoctions and infusions of the roots were used to treat colds and stomach issues in Haudenosaunee medicine.

*Please soil test and do proper research before growing a plant for human consumption.

Fun facts: The name ‘New Jersey Tea’ was coined during the American Revolution because its leaves were used as a substitute for imported tea.