Ceanothus americanus

Product Info

New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)
Buckthorn Family

New Jersey Tea is a low growing, mounding shrub that has high drought tolerance and high pollinator value. Creamy white, fragrant blooms open in late spring and continue into early summer. Flowers attract a wide diversity of pollinators and have been noted to have  'Special Value to Native Bees' by the Xerces Society. Leaves are a dark glossy green that contrast beautifully with white flowers. They have traditionally been used as a caffeine free tea, with a taste similiar to Liptons tea. This shrub is exceptionally drought tolerant and tolerates very poor soils. It's ability to form nodules on its roots to fix and store nitrogen contribute to its ability to thrive in nutrient poor soil. Full sun promotes the best flowering and growth. 

Blooms: White, 4-6 weeks, May-June, fragrant
Leaves: Dark green, textured, remain very attractive through the growing season
Height: 2-3’ 
Space: 3-4’
Soil: Average-Dry
Exposure: Full sun-Part sun
Fauna: High value plant--attracts high numbers of varied pollinators, host plant, seeds for anaimals
Seeds: Small capsules turn dark when ripe, contain 3 seeds
Deer Resistance: Low
Zone: 4-8
Native Status: NC native, common in the Mountains and Piedmont, uncommon in the Coastal Plain
Provenance: NC, seed grown