Ceanothus americanus
An eastern North American native, drought-tolerant and nitrogen-fixing deciduous shrub in the Rhamnaceae family, reaching about 0.8–1.5 m tall with ovate leaves bearing three conspicuous veins and panicles of small white flowers, historically used as a tea substitute and featuring deep roots that persist after fires while providing wildlife habitat.
Common Names
New Jersey Tea, Red Root, Mountain Sweet, Wild Snowball
Summary
Ceanothus americanus, commonly New Jersey tea, is a North American deciduous shrub native to eastern and central regions, it typically grows about 0.8 to 1.5 meters tall with erect to ascending stems and broad, three-veined, serrate leaves, white flowers form in terminal or axillary paniclelike inflorescences 3 to 14 cm long and bloom May to August, followed by 4 to 6 mm wide capsules, a deep root system and nitrogen-fixing ability support drought tolerance and soil enrichment, and the plant provides nectar for pollinators and has historic use as a tea substitute, in cultivation it prefers full sun to partial shade and dry to well-drained soils, tolerates drought once established, and is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9, it can be propagated by seed or cuttings and is valued for borders, ground covers, and erosion control in native or dry landscapes, it is relatively pest- and disease-free, though leaf spot and powdery mildew may occur, dried leaves brew into a caffeine-free tea, and flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, supporting wildlife
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
2-5 feet
Spread
36-60 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4-8
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally Full Sun; tolerates Partial Sun to Partial Shade
Soil Type
Well-drained sandy loam soil
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Bloom Color
White
Bloom Time
Spring to Summer
Foliage Color
Dark green on the upper surface and pale green on the lower surface.
Fall Foliage Color
Yellow
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Slow growth rate, matures in 2–3 years
Seasons of Interest
Spring and Summer
Propagation Methods
Seeds and Cuttings
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, other pollinators, birds
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- L.
- Publication
- Sp. Pl. : 195 (1753)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Rosales
- Family
- Rhamnaceae
- Genus
- Ceanothus
Synonyms
Ceanothus americanus var. glaber Ceanothus americanus var. intermedius Ceanothus americanus var. pitcheri Ceanothus decumbens Ceanothus dillenianus Ceanothus ellipticus Ceanothus glomeratus Ceanothus hybridus Ceanothus intermedius Ceanothus latifolius Ceanothus levigatus Ceanothus macrocarpus Ceanothus milleri Ceanothus multiflorus Ceanothus officinalis Ceanothus ovalifolius Ceanothus perennis Ceanothus pitcheri Ceanothus reclinatus Ceanothus sanguineus Ceanothus tardiflorus Ceanothus trinervus Ceanothus virgatus Ceanothus ovalis var. intermedius Ceanothus macrophyllus Ceanothus macrophyllus Ceanothus procumbens Ceanothus americanus var. americanus