Ceanothus americanus
New Jersey Tea
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Ceanothus genus in the family Rhamnaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Rhamnaceae
- Genus
- Ceanothus
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- vigorous
- Height
- 1.2 m
- Spread
- 1 m
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A refreshing and stimulating tea is made from the dried leaves, it is a good substitute for china tea though it does not contain caffeine[9][11][20][21][23][3][4][8].The leaves are gathered when the plant is in full bloom and are dried in the shade[8].
- Product or use
- Tea
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The roots and root bark of New Jersey tea was used extensively by the North American Indians to treat fevers and problems of the mucous membranes such as catarrh and sore throats[18]. Current day usage of the roots concentrates on their astringent, expectorant and antispasmodic actions and they are employed in the treatment of complaints such as asthma, bronchitis and coughs[18]. The roots and root-bark are antispasmodic, antisyphilitic, strongly astringent (they contain 8% tannin), expectorant, haemostatic and sedative[11][16]. They have a stimulatory effect on the lymphatic system[17], whilst an alkaloid in the roots is mildly hypotensive[16]. The plant is used internally in the treatment of bronchial complaints including asthma and whooping cough, dysentery, sore throats, tonsillitis, haemorrhoids etc[19][16][17]. A decoction of the bark is used as a skin wash for cancer and venereal sores[13]. The powdered bark has been used to dust the sores[13]. The roots are unearthed and partially harvested in the autumn or spring when their red colour is at its deepest. They are dried for later use[17].
- Product or use
- Antispasmodic
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Expectorant
- Product or use
- Haemostatic
- Product or use
- Hypotensive
- Product or use
- Sedative
- Product or use
- VD
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A green dye is obtained from the flowers[5]. A cinnamon-coloured dye is obtained from the whole plant[19]. A red dye is obtained from the root[23][3]. The flowers are rich in saponins, when crushed and mixed with water they produce an excellent lather which is an effective and gentle soap[5][6]. They can be used as a body wash (simply rub the wet blossoms over the body) or to clean clothes[K]. The flowers were much used by the North American Indians as a body wash, especially by the women in preparation for marriage, and they leave the skin smelling fragrantly of the flowers[K].
- Product or use
- Dye
- Product or use
- Soap
Environment
- Range
- Eastern N. America - Maine to Florida, west to Oklahoma and Minnesota.
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 4+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed should be pre-soaked for 12 hours in warm water and then given 1 - 3 months stratification at 1°c[2][10]. Germination usually takes place in 1 - 2 months at 20°c[2]. One report says that the seed is best given boiling water treatment, or heated in 4 times its volume of sand at 90 - 120°c for 4 - 5 minutes and then soaked in warm water for 12 hours before sowing it[14]. The seed exhibits considerable longevity, when stored for 15 years in an air-tight dry container at 1 - 5°c it has shown little deterioration in viability[14]. The seed is ejected from its capsule with some force when fully ripe, timing the collection of seed can be difficult because unless collected just prior to dehiscence the seed is difficult to extract and rarely germinates satisfactorily[14]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. Grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter and plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, taken at a node[10], July/August in a frame[1]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, 7 - 12 cm with a heel, October in a cold frame[22]. The roots are quite brittle and it is best to pot up the callused cuttings in spring, just before the roots break[22]. Good percentage.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a warm sunny position but tolerates light shade[1][10]. Tolerates some lime, but will not succeed on shallow chalk[10]. Another report says that it dislikes alkaline soils, though succeeds in poor dry conditions[17]. Plants dislike root disturbance, they should be planted out into their permanent positions whilst still small[7]. Dislikes heavy pruning, it is best not to cut out any wood thicker than a pencil[7]. Any pruning is best carried out in the spring[15]. Fast growing, it flowers well when young, often in its second year from seed[1]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[10]. Some members of this genus have a symbiotic relationship with certain soil micro-organisms, these form nodules on the roots of the plants and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[10][12].
References
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan. 1989-00-00
McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-253-28925-4
Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.
Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8
Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.
Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Craighead. J., Craighead. F. and Davis. R. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers The Riverside Press 1963-00-00 ISBN 63-7093
Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6
Matthews. V. The New Plantsman. Volume 1, 1994. Royal Horticultural Society 1994-00-00 ISBN 1352-4186
Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0
Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00
Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-486-23310-3