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Ceanothus americanus

Jersey Tea · Jersey-tea Ceanothus · New Jersey Tea

Family RhamnaceaeGenus Ceanothus

Dense rounded clusters of tiny white flowers on long stalks, above toothed deeply veined leaves
Flowerunknown author, USFWSPublic domain

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
ShrubExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
subshrub or shrubPlants of the World Online
Height
2-3 ft60-90 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
3-5 ft0.9-1.5 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Cream/Tan, Pink, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
4-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Dappled Sunlight; Deep shade; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow RockyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Drought tolerance: HighPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    1 germinated in this phase.

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 21 days.

28% germination in 1–21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Ceanothus p. 114Public domain
Show the original text
Ceanothus (Rhamnaceae). C. americana seed was removed from the stiff husk. Germination is best (41%) in outdoor treatment with half of the germination occurring in September through November and the other half in March. A 40-70 treatment was almost as good as shown by 40(1%)-70(28% in 1-21 d), but 70(1%) was nearly fatal. Germination of seed DS 6 m at 40 or 70 was similar to fresh seed as shown by 70(5%)-40-70(8%) and 40(1%)-70(14% in 2-10 d)-40-70(3%). The results show that germination is promoted by oscillating temperatures.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ceanothus p. 114. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 26, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    1 germinated in this phase.

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    3 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 10 days.

14% germination in 2–10 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Ceanothus p. 114Public domain
Show the original text
Ceanothus (Rhamnaceae). C. americana seed was removed from the stiff husk. Germination is best (41%) in outdoor treatment with half of the germination occurring in September through November and the other half in March. A 40-70 treatment was almost as good as shown by 40(1%)-70(28% in 1-21 d), but 70(1%) was nearly fatal. Germination of seed DS 6 m at 40 or 70 was similar to fresh seed as shown by 70(5%)-40-70(8%) and 40(1%)-70(14% in 2-10 d)-40-70(3%). The results show that germination is promoted by oscillating temperatures.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ceanothus p. 114. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    5 germinated in this phase.

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

8% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Ceanothus p. 114Public domain
Show the original text
Ceanothus (Rhamnaceae). C. americana seed was removed from the stiff husk. Germination is best (41%) in outdoor treatment with half of the germination occurring in September through November and the other half in March. A 40-70 treatment was almost as good as shown by 40(1%)-70(28% in 1-21 d), but 70(1%) was nearly fatal. Germination of seed DS 6 m at 40 or 70 was similar to fresh seed as shown by 70(5%)-40-70(8%) and 40(1%)-70(14% in 2-10 d)-40-70(3%). The results show that germination is promoted by oscillating temperatures.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ceanothus p. 114. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

1% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Ceanothus p. 114Public domain
Show the original text
Ceanothus (Rhamnaceae). C. americana seed was removed from the stiff husk. Germination is best (41%) in outdoor treatment with half of the germination occurring in September through November and the other half in March. A 40-70 treatment was almost as good as shown by 40(1%)-70(28% in 1-21 d), but 70(1%) was nearly fatal. Germination of seed DS 6 m at 40 or 70 was similar to fresh seed as shown by 70(5%)-40-70(8%) and 40(1%)-70(14% in 2-10 d)-40-70(3%). The results show that germination is promoted by oscillating temperatures.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ceanothus p. 114. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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