New Jersey Tea

New Jersey Tea

Ceanothus americanus

A compact native shrub with clusters of small, creamy white flowers that bloom in early summer. These fragrant flower clusters attract a wide range of bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects.

After flowering, small seed capsules form that were historically valued for their ability to reseed naturally in open habitats.

A Historic Native Tea Plant

New Jersey Tea became famous during the time of the American Revolutionary War when its dried leaves were used as a tea substitute after imported tea became scarce. The leaves can be dried and brewed to make a mild herbal tea, giving this plant its well-known common name.

A Deep-Rooted Prairie Shrub

Despite its modest size above ground, New Jersey Tea develops an extremely deep root system, sometimes reaching several meters into the soil. This allows it to survive drought and makes it very difficult to transplant once established.

It naturally grows in prairies, oak savannas, sandy openings, and dry woodland edges where it helps stabilize soil and support diverse pollinator communities.

Growing Information

Height: 2–4 ft

Spread: 3–5 ft

Light: Full sun to part shade

Soil: Dry to average, well-drained soils

Hardiness: Zone 4–8

Growth Rate: Slow to moderate

Best planted in prairie gardens, dry meadows, savannas, and naturalized restoration plantings.

Ecological Importance

New Jersey Tea:

Provides abundant nectar for native bees and butterflies

Supports specialized native insects

Produces seeds used by wildlife

Helps stabilize soils in dry prairie ecosystems

🐛 Larval Host Plant For

• Spring Azure Butterfly (Celastrina ladon)
• Mottled Duskywing (Erynnis martialis)
• Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta)

Associated Prairie & Dry Meadow Species

Common companions in natural plant communities include:

• Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
• Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
• Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum)
• Smooth Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve)
• Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
• Hairy Beardtongue (Penstemon hirsutus)
• Round-Headed Bush Clover (Lespedeza capitata)

Planting these species together helps recreate resilient prairie and savanna ecosystems that support pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects.

Planting to Protect
Restoring to Thrive 🌱
Origin Native Plants 🌱

1 Gallon Pots