This drought-tolerant native shrub feeds bees and enriches soil for free
iNaturalist Community
Native Plants
New Jersey tea fixes its own nitrogen through root nodules, meaning it feeds the soil around it while also feeding native bees with clouds of small white flowers in early summer - plant one and the surrounding garden gets richer without any fertilizer.
New Jersey tea is a low-growing native shrub that erupts in clusters of tiny white flowers right around the Fourth of July, which is why thousands of people photographed it this week. It's tough, drought-tolerant once established, and bees absolutely love it. Gardeners in the eastern US often overlook it, but it thrives in dry, rocky spots where little else wants to grow.
Key Findings
1,043 research-grade observations recorded in a single week on iNaturalist, placing it among the most observed plant species nationally
Peak observation timing in early July aligns with the plant's bloom window, suggesting strong phenological documentation by citizen scientists
Research-grade status requires community verification of ID, indicating high observer accuracy and engagement with this species
chevron_right Technical Summary
New Jersey tea, a native North American shrub, topped iNaturalist's weekly charts with 1,043 research-grade observations, signaling peak bloom season and strong naturalist engagement with native understory plants.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Trending: New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus) — 1043 observations this week
New Jersey tea is among the most observed plant species this week with 1043 research-grade observations.
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
Was this useful?
Want to tell us more? (optional)
Thanks for the note!
Something went wrong — please try again.
Too many submissions. Try again in an hour.
Urban Tree Canopy Reduces Heat-Related Mortality by 39% in European Cities
Trees in your local park or street aren't just pretty — they are literally keeping people alive during heatwaves, and planting even a modest number of the ri...
Ceanothus americanus is a species of Ceanothus shrub native to North America. Common names include New Jersey tea, Jersey tea ceanothus, variations of red root, mountain sweet, and wild snowball. New Jersey tea was a name coined during the American Revolution, because its leaves were used as a su...