Culture: Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best in sandy loams or rocky soils with good drainage. Thick, woody, red roots go deep and help plant withstand droughty conditions, but make established shrubs difficult to transplant.
Noteworthy Characteristics: Ceanothus americanus, commonly called New Jersey tea, is a compact, dense, rounded shrub which typically grows 2-3′ tall (less frequently to 4′). It is native to Missouri where it occurs in prairies, glades, dry open woods and thickets throughout the state (Steyermark). Cylindrical clusters (1-2″ long) of tiny, fragrant, white flowers (1/8″) appear on long stalks at the stem ends or upper leaf axils in late spring. Toothed, broad-ovate, medium to dark green leaves (to 4″ long) are gray and hairy below. Young twigs are noticeably yellow and stand out in winter. Genus name comes from keanothos which is an ancient Greek name relating to some plants in the buckthorn family.
Specific epithet means from America, North or South. Dried leaves were used as a tea substitute, albeit without caffeine, in American Revolutionary War times, hence the common name.
Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Susceptible to leaf spot and powdery mildew.
Garden Uses: Shrub borders or native plant gardens. Also effective as a shrubby ground cover for hard-to-grow areas such as dry rocky slopes and banks.
All plant information courtesy of the Missouri Botanical Garden
A deciduous shrub that grows just 3′ tall and is compact and rounded by nature. The dried leaves of New Jersey Tea make a flavorful tea that was popular during the Revolutionary War. Deep tree-like roots of this shrub make it drought-tolerant but difficult to move once established so choose your spot wisely. Light preference is full or part sun and medium-dry soil. Deer and rabbits do like this shrub, especially when it is young so protect new transplants in the early years.
The boiling water treatment (Germination Code: B) helps break open the hard seed coat. This may happen naturally with freeze/thaw cycles, but better germination can be expected if hot water treatment is done before fall planting outside, or artificial cold-moist stratification in a fridge (Germination Code: C).
Price range: $6.00 through $12.00
