There’s no shrub quite so romantic in form and function as New Jersey Tea. Its diminutive, mounding stature and glossy leaves provide the perfect architecture to show off the numerous feathery, white blooms that dance in the breeze. But it’s not just the breeze that makes these flowers dance – they are a favorite among pollinators of all kinds, from beetles to bumblebees to butterflies. In the right spot with well-draining soil and plenty of sunshine, this charming shrub will establish a long tap root and live to delight for decades to come.
Conditions: Full sun to part shade; dry to medium soil, well-drainingSize: 2’-3’ tall, 3’-5’ spread
Zone: 3-9
Wildlife Value: Flowers are highly attractive to bumblebees, pollinating beetles, and small butterflies; supports pollen specialist bees, including Pseudopanurgus pauper; seeds eaten by songbirds; larval host for Spring and Summer Azure butterflies
Photo: Doug McGrady