Name: |
- Ceanothus, from the Greek keanoqus
(keanothus), a name given by Theophrastus to a spiny shrub
not related to this plant.
- americanus, from the Latin "of America"
- Common Name from its use as a tea substitute during the American Revolution
and one of the colonies where it was found and so used.
- Other common names include Red Root
, Wild Snowball, Mountain Sweet
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Taxonomy: |
- Kingdom Plantae, the Plants
- Division Magnoliophyta, the Angiosperms (flowering plants)
- Class Magnoliopsida, the Dicotyledons
- Subclass Rosidae, the Roses
- Order Rhamnales, the Buckthorns
- Family Rhamnaceae, the Buckthorns
- Genus Ceanothus, the Ceanothus
- Taxonomic Serial Number: 28454
- Also known as Ceanothus intermedius, Ceanothus ovatus
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Description: |
- A small to medium shrub from 1½'-3½' tall.
- Branches numerous, slender, and ascending.
- Roots: Shallow, fibrous root hairs near the surface
and thick, burllike, deep, woody roots. Root crown diameter can be quite
large after repeated fires.
- Flowers white, in small clusters on long axillary
peduncles.
- Fruit a three-lobed, dry, dehiscent capsule. black,
3-lobed, 4-5 mm long, 4-5 mm wide
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Identification: |
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Distribution: |
- Quebec to Florida; west to Texas; and north to Minnesota
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Habitat: |
- Dry open plains and prairielike areas, sandy or rocky soils in clearings
at the edge of woods, riverbanks or lakeshores, woodlands, and hillsides.
- Early to mid-successional species, it can rapidly colonize disturbed
sites where its nitrogen-fixing ability gives it a competitive edge
over other species. Declines as successional communities mature.
- Found in greatest abundance at high light intensities.
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Fire: |
- Typically top-killed by fire
- Well adapted to fire. After being top-killed, it sprouts from rootstock.
- Where frequent fires occur it becomes a conspicuous dominant. In northern
Minnesota it withstands grass fires better than any other shrub.
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Associates: |
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History: |
- Root is astringent. An alkaloid from the root was used for increasing
blood coagulability, especially the prevention of hemorrhage from surgery.
- Leaves were substitute for imported tea during the American Revolution.
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Uses: |
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Reproduction: |
- Reproduces from seed and by sprouting.
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Propagation: |
- Propagated from stem or root cuttings
- The seeds have impermeable seed coats as well as dormant embryos.
The best germination results have been obtained by first soaking seeds
in hot water (170-180 degrees F initially, allowing the water to gradually
cool overnight) followed by stratification in moist sand at 41 degrees
F for 60 days.
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Cultivation: |
- Hardy to USDA Zone 3 (average minimum annual temperature -40ºF)
- Cultural Requirements
- Full sun to part shade
- Best in sandy loams or rocky soils with good drainage
- Dry to medium moisture
- Spacing
- Fertilization
- Size 3'-5'"W x 3'-4'H
- Many species of Ceanothus, including New Jersey Tea, are
well suited for use in rehabilitation because of rapid growth rates
and an ability to improve soil fertility through nitrogen fixation.
- Shrub borders or native plant gardens. Also effective as a shrubby
ground cover for hard-to-grow areas such as dry rocky slopes and banks
- Cultivars and species available by mail order from specialty suppliers
or at local nurseries
- Thick, woody, red roots go deep and help plant withstand droughty
conditions, but make established shrubs difficult to transplant.
- No serious insect or disease problems. Susceptible to leaf spot and
powdery mildew.
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Links: |
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Comments: |
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Last updated on
7 March, 2006
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