Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Featured Plant of the Week: New Jersey Tea



Ceanothus Americanus 
New Jersey Tea

PLANT CHARACTERISTICS
Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Size Notes: Normally no more than 3 feet tall, but can reach 5 feet. 
Leaf: Green 
Autumn Foliage: yes
Flower: Flowers in 2 inch heads 
Fruit: Brown 
Size Class: 1-3 ft. 


BLOOM INFORMATION
Bloom Color: White 
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr


GROWING CONDITIONS
Water Use: Low , Medium 
Light Requirement: Part Shade , Shade 
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist 
Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2) 
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium 
Drought Tolerance: High 
Cold Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Well-drained, mesic sand, loam, or limey soils. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Limestone-based 
Conditions Comments: This extremely adaptable species can withstand inhospitable conditions because of massive, deep roots. It is quick to recover after fire. 


BENEFIT
Use Ornamental: Ground cover, Rocky hillside, Low growing, Planned landscape 
Use Wildlife: Butterflies use flowers. Turkeys and quail consume seeds. 
Use Food: The dried leaves of this nitrogen-fixing shrub make an excellent tea that was very popular during the Revolutionary War period. (Niering) 
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Birds , Butterflies 
Larval Host: Spring Azure, Summer Azure, Mottled Duskywing 
Nectar Source: yes