New Jersey Tea is a relative of California Lilacs and one of the most underused native shrubs for difficult spots — it thrives in poor, dry, well-drained soils where other shrubs struggle. It blooms in early summer when few other shrubs are in flower, producing frothy clusters of small white flowers that are lightly honey-scented and exceptionally attractive to butterflies and beneficial insects. It is a host plant for Spring Azure and Mottled Dusky Wing butterfly caterpillars.
The dried leaves of this nitrogen-fixing shrub were used as a tea substitute during the Revolutionary War period. Prune hard every few years in late winter to keep the habit compact and productive — it breaks readily from old wood.
Powdery mildew
White or grey powdery coating on leaves — usually starting on older growth in humid conditions or when nights cool.
Improve air circulation by thinning plants. Apply neem oil or potassium bicarbonate spray at first sign. Avoid overhead watering.
Root rot
Plants wilt, yellow, and stunt even in moist soil; lower stems and roots turn brown, soft, and mushy and the plant may collapse. Most common in heavy, wet, or poorly drained ground.
Improve drainage and stop overwatering, and never plant too deep. Lift and destroy badly affected plants along with the soil around the roots. Grow in raised or free-draining beds to prevent it returning.