New Jersey tea

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; flowering and growth are usually best in full sun.

Water

Water regularly during establishment; established plants usually need extra water only during prolonged drought.

Soil

Well-drained sandy, gravelly or loamy soil, including relatively poor soil. Tolerates dry, rocky sites but dislikes persistent winter wet.

Height

3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m)

Spread

3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m)

Flowers

Late spring to midsummer, depending on climate; rounded clusters of tiny creamy-white flowers.

Foliage

Alternate, oval, finely toothed green leaves with three prominent veins arising near the leaf base; autumn colour is usually modest yellow or yellow-brown.

Growth

Slow to moderate; young plants often establish roots before making much top growth.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Cold hardy
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.9 ft (0.58 m)

3. After 2 years

   2.2 ft (0.67 m)

4. After 3 years

   2.5 ft (0.75 m)

5. After 5 years

   3 ft (0.92 m)

About 7 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Native to

the US and Canada

Growth rate

Slow

• Plant while young in a permanent position; its deep root system makes established plants difficult to move.
• Water deeply when the root zone begins to dry during the first growing season.
• Avoid rich feeding; this nitrogen-fixing shrub usually needs no routine fertiliser.
• Apply a thin mulch, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Keep grass and vigorous weeds away from young plants.

Pruning. In late winter or early spring, remove dead, damaged or crossing stems and lightly shorten wayward growth if needed. It flowers on new growth, but routine hard pruning is unnecessary.

Late winter

Check for winter damage and prune out dead or broken stems.

Spring

Plant young container-grown shrubs once the soil is workable, and water them in thoroughly.

Late spring

Weed around the base and refresh a thin mulch without covering the crown.

Summer

Water new plants during dry spells; give established shrubs water only if drought is prolonged.

Late summer

Collect mature seed capsules before they split if you want to propagate more plants.

Autumn

Check that runoff is not collecting around the roots before the wet season.

• Plant in small groups among little bluestem and prairie flowers for a low, flowering layer.
• Use along a sunny woodland edge where its white flowers stand out against darker foliage.
• Place near a path or seating area to watch the insects visiting its flowers.
• Use in a dry, informal border where a compact shrub provides structure without regular clipping.

Garden styles it suits: Native meadow, Wildlife garden, Pollinator garden, New perennial (prairie), Low-maintenance and Midwest prairie.

Plant it with: Little bluestem, Prairie dropseed, Butterfly weed, Purple coneflower, Wild bergamot and Aromatic aster.

Wildlife: Flowers attract native bees, butterflies and many small beneficial insects. In its native range, the foliage supports caterpillars of several butterflies and moths, including spring and summer azures; deer and rabbits may browse the shoots.

• Root decline in waterlogged soil: improve drainage or choose a drier planting position rather than watering more.
• Deer and rabbit browsing: protect young shrubs with a securely supported wire guard.
• Leaf spot in humid conditions: allow airflow, avoid wetting the leaves and remove badly affected fallen foliage.
• Poor establishment after transplanting: start with a young plant, disturb the roots as little as possible and maintain even moisture during its first season.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. Species-specific safety information is limited, particularly for roots and seeds, so do not assume that any part is suitable for eating or making home remedies.

• Prairie redroot (Ceanothus herbaceus)

  Usually has narrower leaves and flower clusters on more conspicuous stalks. New Jersey tea generally has broader, more egg-shaped leaves.

• Blueblossom (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus)

  An evergreen shrub, often much larger, usually with blue flowers; New Jersey tea loses its leaves in winter and has white flowers.

The common name recalls the use of its leaves as a tea substitute during the American Revolutionary period.

Propagation. Grow from seed or take softwood cuttings in early summer. Seeds have a hard coat and dormancy; scarification followed by cold, moist stratification is commonly used. Buy young plants rather than digging established wild shrubs.

Accepted botanical name

Ceanothus americanus

In the US and Canada

Native in Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas and Kentucky.

Measured

Soil pH 6.5 to 8. Average height 91 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.