CEANOTHUS AMERICANUS

This American Beauties native has a storied American history on the east coast as its common name came from the fact that its foliage was used as a tea substitute during the Revolutionary War. Today, it’s just a great shrub that will thrive in a sunny, well-drained location! Four inch long, deep green leaves with hairy, gray reverse tightly pack this branchy plant to form a dense, compact, spreading plant that pushes flower stalks from leaf bases on the upper ends of branches in early May. Tiny white flowers cluster on these stalks in late May filling the garden with sweet fragrance and attracting butterflies and hummingbirds from far and wide. New Jersey Tea is easy to grow and drought resistant… it’s tough enough for rough landscape spots but refined enough to use as specimen or border planting in a more formal setting.