New Jersey Tea

Ceanothus americanus Origin: Cumberland County, New Jersey Improvement status: Cultivated wild material Seeds per packet: ~45 BOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED Life cycle: Perennial New Jersey Tea is a native perennial shrub with pretty white pom-pom-like flowers and green leaves with a wintergreen-like flavor when fresh. During the American Revolution, when it was politically incorrect to drink imported tea, American patriots took to drinking tea made from the leaves of this plant. It is said to be stimulating, though caffeine-free. Indigenous people have long used the root bark and roots medicinally, mainly to treat upper respiratory infections. Herbalists today use it for problems of the lymphatic system. It is a pretty plant, and its flowers attract a wide range of pollinators (as you can see in the blurry photo). It thrives in sunny or at least partially sunny locations, growing to about 3 feet tall. Our seeds come from plants grown at the EFN flagship farm in Elmer, NJ,