New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus) is in the buckthorn family family (Rhamnaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,119 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Nationally it blooms mainly from May to July, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph New Jersey tea: observations by month (U.S.)
About New Jersey tea
Ceanothus americanus is a species of shrub native to North America. Common names include New Jersey tea, Jersey tea ceanothus, variations of red root (red-root; redroot), mountain sweet (mountain-sweet; mountainsweet), and wild snowball. New Jersey tea was a name coined during the American Revolution, because its leaves were used as a substitute for imported tea.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
New Jersey tea by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 147 | June | May–Jul |
| Pennsylvania | 88 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Mississippi | 82 | May | May–Jun |
| Wisconsin | 79 | July | Jul–Jul |
| New York | 73 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Illinois | 63 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Minnesota | 51 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Michigan | 45 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Tennessee | 45 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Ohio | 41 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Virginia | 39 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Indiana | 34 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Massachusetts | 34 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Missouri | 34 | June | May–Jun |
| Alabama | 31 | May | May–Jun |
| Arkansas | 31 | June | May–Jun |
| South Carolina | 31 | May | May–Jun |
| Georgia | 29 | June | May–Jul |
| Florida | 17 | May | Apr–May |
| Kentucky | 17 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Maryland | 16 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Iowa | 15 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Vermont | 14 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Connecticut | 9 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Louisiana | 9 | May | Apr–May |
| Nebraska | 7 | June | Jun–Jul |
| New Hampshire | 7 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Oklahoma | 7 | May | May–May |
| West Virginia | 7 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Kansas | 6 | June | May–Jul |
| New Jersey | 6 | June | Jun–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (buckthorn family)
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph New Jersey tea?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from May to July.
Where is New Jersey tea most often seen?
The most observations come from North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Mississippi.