Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Spherical white 'pincushion' flowers over standing water, swarmed by butterflies and bees.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
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- Plant guide
- New Jersey Tea
Frothy white
Shrub
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
A compact, drought-proof shrub frothing with white flowers that pollinators and hummingbirds adore.
the Northeastthe Mid-Atlanticthe Southeastthe Midwestthe Great Plainsthe South-Central region
Growing New Jersey Tea
A deep root makes it almost impossible to transplant but bombproof in drought once set. Host to spring azure and summer azure butterflies. It’s deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, and a nitrogen-fixer.
Where it grows
New Jersey Tea is native to the Northeast. In the wild you’ll find it across Alabama · Arkansas · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa and 32 more states. Always confirm it suits your specific county with your state native plant society before planting.
Regional Garden shows New Jersey Tea on 42 state pages.
Good for
Sourcing
Where to buy New Jersey Tea
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.
Plant it with
Companions & kin.
Natives that share New Jersey Tea’s range and conditions.
American Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
Big lacy flower heads in summer give way to purple-black berries for both birds and your kitchen.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 6–12 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
Bare branches erupt in rose-magenta in early spring — and the flowers feed the season's first bees.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 20–30 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
A low, spreading shrub that blankets dry banks and blazes scarlet and orange in fall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr