Clethra alnifolia

Summersweet

Highly fragrant. One shrub will perfume the entire garden with a spicy-sweet fragrance that is especially noticeable in the evening. In mid-summer, dramatic four to six inch, fluffy flower spikes attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Dark brown seed capsules, resembling peppercorns, follow in fall and remain until spring, attracting birds through the winter.

Additional Information:

Height 5-6 Feet

Spread 4-5 Feet

Bloom/Seasonal Color Deep Pink / Rose

USDA Hardiness Zone 4 - 9

Home Owner Growing and Maintenance Tips:
Grows naturally in moist, partially shaded places usually at the edge of a woodland, often in large masses along a stream. However, Clethra will also perform handsomely in a broad range of conditions: full sun with adequate moisture, dry shade - the most difficult of all gardening conditions, even bog-like conditions. Summersweet will exist, but perform poorly, in full sunny, dry places.

Characteristics & Attributes