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| ## new jersey tea {#new-jersey-tea .Title-Header}                     |
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| *Ceanothus americanus* L.                                             |
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| Plant Symbol = CEAM                                                   |
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*Contributed by: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center*

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.654861111111111in" height="3.9875in"}

# Uses

*Ethnobotanic*: Tribes of the Missouri River region used the leaves for
tea and burned the roots for fuel on buffalo hunting trips when fuel
wood was scarce. The roots of New Jersey tea were used by the Chippewa
for pulmonary troubles and for constipation coupled with shortness of
breath and bloating. The Cherokee held the root tea on an aching tooth
to ease the pain and consumed hot root tea for bowel troubles.

# Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

# Description

######## General: Buckthorn Family (Rhamnaceae). New Jersey tea is a native shrub ranging from 2-10 dm tall. The leaves are broadly oblong-ovate, 5-10 cm long by 2.5-6 cm wide. The leaves are wedge-shaped, tapering to a point at the base with a blunt tip. New Jersey tea has a branched, racemose inflorescence (1-4 cm long) with flowers maturing from the bottom upwards. The flower petals are dipper-shaped, 1-1.5 mm long, and white colored.

*Distribution*: For current distribution, please consult the Plant
Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

*Habitat*: New Jersey tea is usually found in the sandy soils of open
woodlands and prairies, and on rocky hillsides.

# Adaptation

New Jersey tea is fire-adapted. It is typically top-killed by fire, but
is a prolific re-sprouter from the surviving rootstock. Where frequent
fire occurs, New Jersey tea becomes a dominant species forming clusters
among prairie grasses.

# Establishment

New Jersey tea is a drought tolerant species that grows best in
well-drained soils with full sun. New Jersey tea is difficult to
transplant, therefore propagation by seed is recommended. Seeds should
be planted outside in the late fall or early winter. To improve seed
germination for spring planting the seeds should be submerged in hot
water (180 deg. F) and allowed to soak overnight as the water cools then
planted outside.

# Pests and Potential Problems

New Jersey tea is susceptible to leaf spot and powdery mildew, however
no serious insect or disease problems exist.

# Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

These materials are readily available from commercial plant sources.
Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil
Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone
book under "United States Government." The Natural Resources
Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading "Department of
Agriculture."

# References

Correl, D.S. & M.C. Johnston 1970. *Manual of the vascular plants of
Texas*. Texas Research Foundation, Renner, Texas. 1881 pp.

Easyliving Wildflowers 2001. *Native perennial wildflowers*. Willow
Springs, Missouri.

<http://www.easywildflowers.com/quality/cea.amer.htm>

Gilmore, M. 1977. *Uses of plants by the indians of the Missouri river
region*. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, Nebraska. 109 pp.

Great Plains Flora Association 1986. *Flora of the great plains*.
University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 1392 pp.

Hamel, P.B. & M.U. Chiltoskey 1975. *Cherokee plants their uses-a 400
year history*. Herald Publishing Company, Sylva, North Carolina. 65 pp.

Kindscher, K. 1987. *Edible wild plants of the prairie*. University
Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 276 pp.

Missouri Botanical Garden 2000. *Plant Finder*.
<http://www.mobot.org/hort/plantfinder/Code/A/G82.htm>

Moerman, D.E. 1998. *Native American ethnobotany*. Timber press,
Portland, Oregon. 927 pp.

Moerman, D.E. 1999. *Native American ethnobotany database: Foods, drugs,
dyes and fibers of native North American peoples*. The University of
Michigan-Dearborn, Michigan. <http://www.umd.umich.edu/cgi-bin/herb>.

Rydberg, P.A. 1932. *Flora of the prairies and plains of central North
America*. The Science Press Printing Company, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
969 pp.

United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain
Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory 2001*. Fire effects
information system*. Accessed: 23jul2001.

<http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrubs/ceaame/index.html>

# Prepared By: 

##### *Matthew D. Hurteau*

##### Formerly USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center, c/o Environmental Horticulture Department, University of California, Davis, California

##### 

# Species Coordinator: 

##### *M. Kat Anderson* 

USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center, c/o Plant Science Department,
University of California, Davis, California

##### Edited: 29jan03 jsp; 09jun03 ahv; 31may06 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

*The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual
orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
TDD).*

*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.*

*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
Service](http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/civilrights/).*