Ceanothus americanus / New Jersey tea

A compact, rounded shrub and the larval host for butterfly and moth, including the Spring Azure, Summer Azure, and Mottled Duskywing. Ground-feeding and song birds eat the hard seeds in Fall. Dense, twiggy branches provide excellent nesting spots for small birds.

Note: deep, woody roots make this shrub drought tolerant but also difficult to transplant once established.

Zone: 4-8