New Jersey Tea, Ceanothus americanus L., Native Minnesota Wildflower shrub, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

	Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Prime Season
	New Jersey Tea	Ceanothus americanus L.	Buckthorn (Rhamnaceae)	Upland	Early to Late Summer
Other names and notes	(Red-root) A small shrub, growing to 3 feet in height, with branched clusters of very small white 5-parted flowers on long stalks that spring from the leaf axils. The flower petals are dipper shape and quite small. Leaves are wedge-shaped tapering to a base point and a blunt tip at the other end. The fruit is a small three-celled drupe which turns into 3 stone-like seeds. When burned off in prairie areas, it re-sprouts energetically from the roots. It can become dominant in prairies where there are frequent burns. It is difficult to transplant and should be propagated by seed in late fall. It is susceptible to leaf spot. The early East Coast settlers and the Indians used the plant to brew a tea-like beverage that had medicinal properties - hence the common name. The genus name if from the Greek keanothus which was used to refer to a spiny plant.



Above and below bottom: New Jersey Tea in full bloom in the first week of July where it can make extensive hillside displays in the Upland Garden. Right: The 3-celled drupe which will open when mature to 3 stone-like seeds.
Below left: The leaf structure. Below right: The previous year's seed head that has survived the winter.

Notes: This plant is indigenous to the Garden area. Eloise Butler catalogued it on Sept. 6, 1907. Growing primarily in soils of open woodlands and prairies, the plant is found in most counties of the eastern half of Minnesota where cultivation has not removed it.

Lore and Use: In herbal medicine, the root was used as an astringent, expectorant, sedative and as an antispasmodic. The active principle is an acid named Ceanothine. Densmore reports the use of the root among the Minnesota Chippewa in treatment for a cough. They used 5" of root, grated, in one quart of water to produce a decoction. The dosage was one swallow. Mrs. Grieve reports that in Canada a cinnamon color dye was made for wool. (Refs 5, 7, 12)

Eloise Butler wrote of this plant: "The shrub-like Ceanothus or New Jersey Tea, seemingly covered with sea foam and mist, has drifted from the Atlantic to the valley of the Mississippi. This plant has historic interest as well as refined beauty. It is well that it grows in prodigal masses in wide distribution. For, after the Boston Tea Party, a brew of the leaves of the Ceanothus plenished the teapots of our revolutionary forebears." Published in the Minneapolis Sunday Tribune July 16, 1911.

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References: Plant characteristics are generally from sources 15, 16, 30, 31, 33, W2 & W3. Distribution principally from W2 and also 31, 34 and W1. Planting history generally from 1, 4 & 4a. Other sources by specific reference. See Reference List for details.

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