New Jersey Tea

Ceanothus americanus

New Jersey Tea has dark green foliage historically used as a tea (hence the name) and come June is covered in clusters of tiny white flowers that lends for a stunning display through June and July. Once the flowers have spent, the shrub is then studded with red-brown seed heads that give a second show of interest. It is a lovely shrub that works well planted as a hedgerow and can be a great native alternative to Boxwood shrub (though New Jersey Tea is not an evergreen).

As it is difficult to move once established, the site you choose to plant New Jersey Tea should be selected carefully.  Deer and rabbit like to browse the leaves so it is best to protect it until establish when it can tolerate the browsing. That being said, this shrub produces flowers on new stems so any pruning done wildlife can reward you with more blooms! If you should choose to prune your New Jersey Tea it should be done early in the season.  Mature shrubs can also be cut to the ground in spring to encourage more vigorous growth.

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation has listed that the New Jersey Tea plant is of special value to the Yellow Banded Bumble Bee.