New Jersey Tea

Scientific name

Ceanothus americanus

Description

New Jersey Tea is a short, hardy, deciduous shrub species that typically grows between 1 and 1.5 m in height. This plant may also be known by the common names: Red Root, Indian Tea, or Wild Snowball. The leaves are alternately arranged, broad, ovate shaped, dark to medium green colored, have toothed margins, and have hairy undersides. The flowers are tiny, white colored, fragrant, appear in clusters on flowering stalks, and bloom between May and July. The flowers are beneficial for pollinator species, like butterflies and hummingbirds. The root system is thick and deep making the plant drought tolerant and valuable for erosion control.

Planting conditions

New Jersey Tea grows best in normal to moist conditions with full or partial sun exposure. It prefers sand, loam, or rocky soil types. This shrub can tolerate drought and dry shallow soil but young plants should be watered until they have established. It also tolerates nutrient poor soil and toxin released by nearby Walnut trees. It can be naturally found in fields, prairies, open forests, and upland river or lake shorelines.

Details

• Plant height:
  • Max 1.5m
  • Max 2m
  • Max 3m
  • Any
• Moisture level:
  • Dry
  • Normal
  • Moist
  • Drought Tolerant
• Light conditions:
  • Full sun
  • Partial sun
• Soil type:
  • Sandy
  • Loamy
  • Rocky
• pH:
  • Basic
  • Normal
• Depth:
  • Potted
• Eco Zone:
  • 2a
  • 2b
  • 3a
  • 3b
  • 4a
  • 4b
  • 5a
  • 5b
  • 6a
  • 6b
  • 7a
  • 7b
  • 8a
• Plant type:
  • Shrub
• Height:
  • 1-1.5 m
• Spread:
  • 1 m