New Jersey Tea is a deciduous shrub that is native to eastern and central North America. Its native habitat is open, deciduous woods, woodland edges, oak savannas, and meadows. It is low growing with a rounded crown and typically grows to 3 feet tall and 5 feet wide. In early summer it is covered with fragrant clusters of creamy white flowers.
New Jersey Tea grows best in well-drained sandy loam or rocky soils in full sun to partial shade. It is drought tolerant once established and tolerates road salt.
Because of its deep root system, it is great for use in erosion control on slopes, but this characteristic also makes it difficult to transplant. Use this shrub in foundations, as a specimen, shrub borders, native plantings or in groupings.
 
A great addition to a butterfly garden, this shrub is a food source for the larvae of the Mottled Duskywing (Erynnis martialis), Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon), and Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta) butterflies.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: The New Jersey tea is susceptible to leaf spot and powdery mildew. Prone to root rot in wet soils and canker disease.