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New Jersey tea

Scientific Name: Ceanothus americanus

Family: Rhamnaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Subshrub, Shrub

Duration: Perennial

Other Names: ME (New Jersey tea)

       

New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)

New Jersey Tea, scientifically known as Ceanothus americanus, is a deciduous shrub native to North America. It's a versatile plant with a rich history and several interesting characteristics.

Considerations for Pets

  • The plant is a shrub.

Considerations for Children

  • The plant is a shrub.

Common Names

  • New Jersey Tea
  • Jersey Tea Ceanothus
  • Red Root
  • Wild Snowball
  • Mountain-sweet
  • Walpole Tea

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Ceanothus americanus
  • Family: Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn family)
  • Genus: Ceanothus
  • Species: americanus
  • Synonyms: Not explicitly provided.

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to North America, occurring from Canada to Florida.
  • Found in prairies and glades, including the Chicago area and Missouri.
  • Prefers dry, sunny slopes.

Ecological Role

  • Attracts hummingbirds and pollinators.
  • Provides browse for wildlife such as rabbit, elk, and deer.
  • Serves as a food source for turkey and quail.
  • Well-suited for hot, dry sites.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • A low, upright, deciduous shrub typically growing to 2-3 feet tall, but can reach up to 4 feet.
  • Compact, dense, and rounded in form.
  • Pubescent leaves give the plant a grayish cast. Dark-green leaves are irregularly toothed, 2 to 3 inches long, and softly hairy or nearly hairless.
  • Small white flowers occur in clusters 1 to 3 inches long. Flowers are fragrant.
  • Blooms from June to August.
  • Has a deep red root.
  • Woody stems are erect and many-branched.
  • Leaves are alternate, oblong and prominently three-veined.

Quirky Facts

  • New Jersey Tea was formerly called Red Root Tea and became popular as a tea substitute during the Boston Tea Party when colonists sought alternatives to tea from China.
  • Native Americans referred to it as "Kituki Manito," meaning "spotted snake spirit," and claimed it had great powers.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • A popular plant for pollinators.

Additional Information

  • Requires full sun and well-drained soils for best growth.
  • Grows at a fast rate and is hardy to zone (UK) 4.