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New Jersey tea
Habit (mature) · unknown author, USFWS / Wikimedia Commons · Public Domain
Limited coverage
New Jersey tea
Ceanothus americanus
A native eastern + central North American deciduous shrub with frothy white flower clusters in early summer + nitrogen-fixing root nodules (one of few non-legume nitrogen-fixers). Compact + drought-tolerant; tea was brewed from the leaves during the American Revolution as a colonial-era substitute for British tea.
Native: 28 US states + 1 CA province
Review: Source-backed
Climate fit: broad (76/100)
Pollinator
Border
Filler
Light
Full sun / Part shade
Water
Low water
Mature size
24-48" tall · 36" apart
Hardy in zones
4a-8b
very cold to frosty winters
Summer heat range
Cool-Hot
cool to hot summers Interim Plotwright tier until the plant AHS range is authored.
Native in Illinois
Yes
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A documented larval host for the Spring azure — caterpillars feed on its foliage before becoming the next generation.
Wildlife relationships
Cold hardiness
Now
Zone 6b
USDA
Chicago, IL · 1991-2020 average annual coldest day
Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer
Well-suited
2050
Zone 7b
Plotwright
Your zone + climate-model shift · SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry)
Well-suited
In plain terms: cold winters — coldest nights typically around -3°F.
Well-suited today and still thriving in 2050.
Heat tolerance
Loading current AHS heat-zone and plant heat-fit data at your coordinates…
Sources & citations
Cite this page
For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.
Plotwright. (2026, May 17). New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus). Retrieved 2026, June 5, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/new-jersey-tea
Sources for every fact
Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited18 source-backed.
NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
University extension service
Backs 17 fields
Identity
Summary
Plant type
Light
Moisture
Hardiness
Heat zone
Size
Spacing
Habit
Design roles
Seasonal interest
Growth stages
Lifecycle
Regional guidance
Success tips
Designer notes
Wikimedia Commons
Photo · Public Domain (USFWS)
Backs 1 field
Image
Community photos
The photos above are our reviewed reference set, curated for accuracy.
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