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New Jersey Tea

New Jersey Tea

Ceanothus americanus

shrub☀️ full sun💧 low waterZone 4aZone 9b

A native deciduous shrub producing delicate white flower clusters in late spring and early summer, historically used to make tea. Extremely drought-tolerant once established and valuable for dry sites, poor soils, and supporting pollinators.

Overview

Form
Mounding
Growth Rate
moderate
Size
2–3′ tall × 2–4′ wide
Dormancy
deciduous

Tolerances & Soil

high
Zone 4aZone 9b
1471013
ColderWarmer
Zone range: Zone 4a to Zone 9b

pH Range

4.36.5
7.0
3.556.589
pH range: 4.3 to 6.5

Soil Texture

Coarse, Medium

Seasonality

Bloom Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Harvest Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Season of Interest

SpringSummer

Shrub

Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.

Succession Role

pioneerearly successional

Native to the United States

Native Range

Eastern North America

Native to: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa

Function & Care

erosion controlmedicinalnitrogen fixerpollinator nectarywildlife benefitedible
Nitrogen Fixer · Low

Edible Parts

leaf

Establishment & Care

Establishment
easy
Maintenance
low
Propagation
seed, cutting, root cutting