Ceanothus americanus
New Jersey Tea
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New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) - Description
Ceanothus americanus is a species of shrub native to North America. Common names include New Jersey tea, Jersey tea ceanothus, variations of red root (red-root; redroot), mountain sweet (mountain-sweet; mountainsweet), and wild snowball. New Jersey Tea was a name coined during the American Revolution, because its leaves were used as a substitute for imported tea.
New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) - Blooming
Typically Wild Lilacs bloom in the spring, but certain species may vary. The flowers range in color from white to all shades of blue.
New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) - Growth
Deciduous and evergreen shrubs. Some are small trees. Plants vary greatly in growth habits. Some grow low, prostrate and spreading, while others are compact and bushy. Grows best in full sun. Trained against a wall, Ceanothus can reach twice the height they would normally grow in an open site. Low growing, prostrate species, like C. americanus, grow well as groundcovers or in large rock gardens. In general, California Lilacs grow best in shrub borders or against sunny walls.
New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) - Planting
Sow seeds in a seedbed, or in containers in fall. Species will hybridize freely. Can also propagate from semi-ripe cuttings for evergreen species, and greenwood cuttings for deciduous species during the summer. Greenwood cuttings are taken from shoot-tips of plants, and are harder than softwood cuttings. Semi-ripe cuttings are cuttings taken from semi-mature wood.
New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) - Pest
Deer may be a problem, but Wild Lilacs with smaller leaves tend to be more resistant to herbivory by deer. Aphids and whiteflies can be a problem, but are easily controlled.
New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) - Interesting facts
The seeds of some Ceanothus can stay dormant for centuries until a forest fire triggers germination.
New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) - Soil and irrigation
Wild Lilacs require excellent drainage. These plants evolved growing on rocky slopes. Some species require total dryness during the summer months (especially the coastal ground-cover species), but others need rare summer watering. Prefers rich soil with good drainage. Lime tolerant, but can become chlorotic in shallow, alkaline soils.
