Botanical Name: Clethra alnifolia
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Common Name: Summersweet  
Plant photo of: Clethra alnifolia
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Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Shrub

 

Height Range

3-6', 6-12'

 

Flower Color

White

 

Flower Season

Summer

 

Leaf Color

Dark Green

 

Bark Color

Brown

 

Fruit Color

Brown

 

Fruit Season

Winter, Fall, Persistent

Sun

Full, Half, Shade

 

Water

High

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Well-drained, Moist

 

Soil pH

Acid, Neutral

 

Adverse Factors

Attracts Bees

Design Styles

English Cottage, Formal, Woodland

 

Accenting Features

Fragrance, Showy Flowers

 

Seasonal Interest

Summer

 

Location Uses

Entry, Shrub Border, Foundation, Walls / Fences

 

Special Uses

Cut Flowers, Erosion Control, Hedge

 

Attracts Wildlife

Birds

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer: Beverly Leftwich

  • Description

  • Notes

Summersweet is a slender, upright, deciduous shrub which typically grows 3 to 8 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide. It features fluffy, bottle brush-like, terminal, 3 to 6-inch spikes of extremely fragrant white flowers which bloom on current season's growth for in mid to late summer. Foliage is serrated, glossy, and dark green, turning to a striking yellow in autumn. Flower spikes give way to spikes of dark brown seed capsules which persist into winter and provide continuing interest. Flowers are very attractive to butterflies and bees. A good choice for a rain garden.
Grow in a loamy, rich, well drained to slightly wettish soil in full sun to part shade; in our hot summers it will require less water in part shade. Tolerates full shade, though it may reduce flowering.