Deciduous Shrub
Bloomtime: July–August
Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Height: 3’–4’
Moisture: Dry–Medium
Soil: Well-drained
Resistant to: Deer & drought
Attracts: Butterflies, bees, birds
Pollinator benefit: Larval host plant for Spring Azure, Summer Azure, Mottled Duskywing butterflies; good nectar plant
Supports 115 Species
New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) features glossy leaves, numerous bright white flowers, and a mounding shape that make this compact shrub a popular garden member. Planted two to three feet apart, it forms an attractive low-growing hedge and is an excellent choice for rocky hillsides and slopes, as well. New Jersey Tea requires a well-drained site. The deep tap root makes it very drought tolerant once established. With a slow to moderate growth rate, the long-lived plants will mature in 2 to 3 years. When planting more than one, place them 3' apart.
New Jersey Tea attracts wild turkey and quail with its seeds in fall. The name New Jersey Tea was coined during the American Revolution because its leaves were used as a substitute for imported tea.
some info from www.wildflowers.org