Caenothus americanus 

Full Sun / Sun to Part Sun

Zone: 5 - 9

Height: 24-36"

New Jersey tea is a compact, dense, rounded shrub which typically grows 2-3' tall. It is native where it occurs in, glades, dry open woods and thickets. Cylindrical clusters (1-2" long) of tiny, fragrant, white flowers appear on long stalks at the stem ends or upper leaf axils in late spring. Medium to dark green leaves (to 4" long) are gray and hairy below. Young twigs are noticeably yellow and stand out in winter. Dried leaves were used as a tea substitute, albeit without caffeine, in American Revolutionary War times.