New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
Plant Characteristics:
- Duration: Perennial
- Habit: Shrub
- Leaf retention: Deciduous
- Size class: 1-3ft
- Native Habitat: Open, deciduous woods; woodland edges; oak savannas; mesic or dry prairies; roadsides
- Bloom time: March-April
Growing Conditions
- Light:
- Sun, partial shade
- Soil:
- Moisture: dry, moist
- Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
- CaCO3 Tol: Medium
- Drought tolerance: high
- Cold tolerant: yes
- Description: Well-drained, mesic sand, loam, or limey soils. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Limestone-based
- Water use:
- Low-medium
- Condition comments:
- This extremely adaptable species can withstand inhospitable conditions because of massive, deep roots. It is quick to recover after fire.
Benefits:
- Use as ornamental: Ground cover, Rocky hillside, Low growing, Planned landscape
- Wildlife: Butterflies use flowers. Turkeys and quail consume seeds
- Edible: The dried leaves of this nitrogen-fixing shrub make an excellent tea
- very popular during the Revolutionary War period
- Conspicuous flowers
- Attracts butterflies and bees
- Nectar source
- Specific value to native bees