Were you in one of those locations that had a really severe winter last year?

I've just planted a couple myself, so would also be interested in advice. I had heard that rabbits like them, so I put cages around them at the time of planting a month ago. So far I've seen very little growth, though they look healthy. I'm hoping this means that they're concentrating on root growth.

Mine are in a sunny south border location between the drive and house (I think it's more like a zone 7 microclimate because of that), silty clay loam, reasonably well-draining. My plan is to make sure the area isn't too dry going into winter, and to make sure they've got a fair amount of leaves or other mulch. I am not planning to fertilize them this year, but will probably put some compost down around them in the spring, plus taller cages.

I wintersowed seeds of New Jersey Tea for the second year, since I got no germination the first time. Great success this time, so now I just need to let them grow, and I guess keep the rabbits away. Sorry I don't have experience to share yet, but I look forward to hearing if anyone has information to share.

Martha

NJ tea has done fine for me on a slope with good drainage. However, our last two winters knocked it down, but it has come back once more. I live in a cold zone 7 and have this in full sun. I also found a stand on a rescue about 30 mi. south out in full sun but at the edge of formerly cut over pasture. I think drainage is the key, especially when we have lots of rain in the cold seasons. Have seen this one in the wild in the shade, but it doesn't bloom much there. I hope I can collect some seeds as they have bloomed well.

I think because I got them late last year they didn't do well during the winter we had in NJ. But well established hardy plants didn't do well either. The one that did make it something violently pulled it out of the ground and I didn't notice until it was to late. The two I just purchased are going to be planted in a more sheltered area. I have heard that even people trying to grow from the plant from seed in greenhouses have had some problems. You would think for a native plant it would grow easily! I wonder if the seeds need that cold period that some do in order to germinate.

Yes, these seeds need cold, i.e., stratification, but some people can grow them from cuttings. (I have not.) If you need to prune, do it in early spring, as it is a summer bloomer. Even the one I had that died to the ground this past winter bloomed a little just a few weeks ago.

Lovely pictures! Sorry it took so long to respond back. It has been a very busy summer for me. I love all advice and it has been a greet help. My two plants are doing great, for now. They are a little wobbly being so young and the beetles ate them a bit. My second batch of nematodes didn't make it in the mail, it was two hot, so I had a grub and beetle damage this year. But I'm crossing my fingers that they live. The Snakeroot I purchased is doing great as is the butterfly weed and Bush Honeysuckle. I just hope everything makes it this winter.

My winter sown seedlings didn't do much at all, that I could see. They are in very lean, sandy soil and mostly shade, but that is all I have to offer. I will mulch them with shredded leaves (no shortage of those) and see what is left come next spring. My neighbor has been removing some large oaks, so maybe I'll have more sun next year. I would remove some of my trees, but tree removal is so expensive, and they are my only air conditioning. Everyone have a cozy fall and winter.

Martha

I've read in a couple of places that NJT has thick roots that they spend most of their energy growing the first few seasons, similar to Baptisia. They may not flower until the fourth season from seed.

Each of mine (nursery-grown, I'm assuming second season) has maybe 2-3 more leaves than it did in June when I last posted about them. Definitely a slow grower.

Interesting to hear of others seeing slow growth with their NJT. All plants I mentioned in the post above were loaded with blooms this summer (2nd yr). They do receive all-day sun, but are planted in dry, sandy/rocky soil.

Baptisia, on the other hand, has been very slow to develop top growth in our dry soils. Our last home had more of a clay-loam and top growth was much faster. Currently growing Baptisia bracteata, Baptisia australis, & Baptisia alba.

Plant4wildlife, did you fertilize these plants or add compost, etc.?

No fertilizer. May have added a few scoops of compost or humus to the planting holes.

If I remember correctly, seeds germinated outside in containers around late April - early May. Gradually potted them up to 32 oz. yogurt containers in a mix of potting soil & perlite. Sometime in July they were big enough to plant out.

I just picked up a fully grown NJT from the nursery and it seems to be doing okay for now. I think the problem was location. The other two plants have been moved again to see if more light will do better for them. I just use EZ Flow Compost and some Plant Tone with Bio Tone in it. It seems to work for everything else. I am loving the Snake Root though and I might just get more of that if the NJT fails.

As long as my New Jersey Tea is alive, I won't give up on it. I have 6-8 seedlings that sprouted in the spring and are planted out. I also have 5-6 identical seedlings still in pots. I'll keep all of them and revisit in the spring.

Martha

If I can chime in here. According to usda, its natural range extends from Hudson's Bay to Florida, which means it's very important where the source of seeds comes from. Any seed from southern climes will not survive cold winters in the north. I have a similar problem here finding a northern source for Button Bush seeds, another one with a large N/S range.

Finding a source for cold adapted seeds is very important to me.

Dandy,

My sister has a Button Bush in Lansing , Michigan (zone 5 last I checked) area that has been growing for at least 5 years. She gets most of her plants from Wild Type in Mason, MI, so probably a "Northern source." I would be happy to get you some seeds, or seedlings. She has hundreds of volunteers every year. Message me or reply here. She gave me a Button Bush that is doing well in Grand Rapids, MI.

Martha

I just bought a Button Bush. It seems to be happy for now. I worry when I buy plants late in the year. Despite that I keep watering until they ground freezes, I always have a 50/50 chance of survival. I did move the two little New Jersey Tea plants I got online and now they lost their leaves. I'm worried I just killed them. I purchased them from Niche Gardens along with three other plants, one didn't make it through the summer. The others are doing great. I just hope the loss of leaves happened because I moved the plants, not because I killed them.

Docmom/Martha-I sent you a PM-Email about some Buttonbush. Did you get it?

Dandy,

No, I did not receive any messages. I got an email from my sister, and she was able to collect plenty of seeds. I'll try to message you. I've been searching for this post, but couldn't remember which thread it was in. Sorry it took so long.

Martha