Ceanothus is a vast genus, the species of which pretty much all are native to the west coast, except for this one. There are a few special things about this plant. First of all, it is capable of fixing nitrogen, despite the fact that it is not a legume. That being said, not all leguminous plants fix nitrogen, such as the eastern redbud (oh look, I found something incorrect in Wikipedia – and the link cited does not mention anything specifically about Cercis canadensis).
Secondly, this plant has a lot of ethnobotanical history. It was (is?) utilized medicinally. The leaves were used as a substitute for tea during the American Revolution. The roots can be used as a dye, which grants it another common name of “redroot.”
Third, which is of great importance to you if you are attempting to establish a patch of them, keep them sprayed. While my deer, whose brains are more foam than beer, seem to leave this alone and go for things that even surprise me at times, for most this is not the case. I’m sure mine will eventually catch on, which is why I try to remember to spray it from time to time. In the wild, this is one of their major food sources. Great for a food plot where deer have a healthy enough dose of fear causing them to browse and keep moving. It’s not great for the home garden where they feel safe to graze like goats until it’s all gone.
Borrowing a line from our lovely National Park Service, keep the wildlife wild, do not feed them, scare, don’t stare. No, seriously, stop admiring the adorable emaciated cows and taking photos of them in your yard because aww wildlife, you need to scare them off. It keeps everyone safe. Letting them feel safe is actually causing them more harm. Life is not a Disney movie.
Find New Jersey tea in the wild
New Jersey tea is usually found on the sandy soils of open woodlands and prairies, and on rocky hillsides. (Source)
Grow New Jersey tea in your garden
Continuing with the quote from the USDA plant fact sheet:
It is fire adapted with top growth being typically killed by fire, but vigorous resprouting from the undamaged rootstock. It has the ability to slowly spread from seed production; however the seedling vigor is considered quite low. Drought resistance is very good, under severe drought the leaves will become discolored and shrivel, but quickly revive when moisture returns. (Source)
Considering the fact that I scarified and sowed 100 seeds based on this notion hoping that some would survive, I’d say this isn’t true in the nursery setting. The seedlings are doing remarkably well for me.
New Jersey tea prefers well drained soil in full sun. Once established, you don’t need to water it. That being said, it’s a highly adaptable species that’s fairly easy to grow in most conditions, and can tolerate part sun. As mentioned earlier, protect it from deer or keep it sprayed. The first year while establishing, I kept mine under an antique crab pot. Now that it’s exposed, I remember to spray it from time to time, despite the fact that the deer haven’t bothered it much. If you give it room, it will slowly sucker and spread to form a colony. It is a bit slow to grow, so you don’t have to worry about it getting out of hand.
Judgy Judy says
That is a very nice shrub. It is neat and tidy and has pretty, fragrant flowers. HOA approved.
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