Ceanothus americanus (New Jersey Tea)

Plant Info

Also known as:	Redroot, Wild Snowball
Genus:	Ceanothus
Family:	Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	native
Habitat:	sun to part shade; sandy soil, fields, prairies, open woods
Bloom season:	early summer
Plant height:	1 to 3 feet
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Battle Creek Regional Park Long Lake Regional Park Rice Creek Trail Corridor Vadnais/Snail Lake Regional Park

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Detailed Information

Flower:

Flowers are in round to cylindrical clusters 1 to 1½ inches long at the end of branching stems at the top of the plant. Individual flowers are white, about ¼ inch across, with 5 spoon-shaped petals and 5 stamens with yellowish to purplish tips. Each flower is on a white stalk about ½ inch long.

Leaves and stem:

Leaves are generally egg-shaped, 1½ to 3 inches long and about half as wide, with serrated edges, a pointed tip, and usually a short leaf stem. The underside of the leaf is softly hairy; the upper side is less so. Attachment is alternate. The main stem variably hairy and becomes woody with age.

Fruit:

Fruit is a triangular 3-sectioned capsule about ¼ inch across, each section containing 1 seed. The capsule is shiny green, ripening to a dull dark purplish brown.

Notes:

New Jersey Tea is technically a shrub. It sends up multiple stems and can take on a bushy appearance.

More photos

• New Jersey Tea plants, about 2 feet tall
• close-up of flowers

Photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN July and September 2008

Comments

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