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Ceanothus americanus

Posted by hemnancy z8 PNW (My Page) on
Fri, Feb 8, 13 at 19:15

Has anyone grown Ceanothus americanus, which has herbal uses but mainly in the root, it's known as Red Root, but the leaves were used by the colonists as a tea substitute since it has a similar taste without the caffeine. I ordered one but am not quite sure where to plant it. I have a Ceanothus 'Victoria' in a sunny and dry location on a slope, which it seems to like since they do better without summer water, but I think C. americanus needs some water and perhaps better soil, so I don't know if it would be equally happy there, and if it requires more protection from deer, perhaps the leaves are not as small and leathery. I thought deer left C. 'Victoria' alone but I was looking at it and the outer small leaves seem to have been nibbled.

So, do you think I need deer protection (wire fencing), and has anyone tried it for tea from the leaves or the roots?


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RE: Ceanothus americanus

i always put a piece of chicken wire over a plant deer like till it becomes well established, when young they need all the leaf surface they can produce. have never made a tea of the roots but make a tincture from the root for medicinal uses, its a lymphatic fluid mover and cleanser, helps stimulate immunity, a valuable medicinal botanical.


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