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    • Photo of Clethra alnifolia flower, foliage, form by Kenpei

    Photo by Kenpei

    This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license.

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    Clethra alnifolia

    Also Known As

    • Summersweet

    Plant type

    shrub

    size

    • H: 4'-8'
    • W: 4'-6'

    planting zones

    • 4a-9b

    More Options

    Clethra alnifolia plant details

    Clethra alnifolia is a slow-growing broadleaf deciduous shrub with green foliage. In summer white flowers emerge. Attracts bees making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and even moisture - regular water. Adapts to various soil conditions.

    CHARACTERISTICS OF Clethra alnifolia

    Plant type: shrub
    Plant family: clethraceae
    Foliage: deciduous green
    Mature size: 4 FT - 6 FT - wide, 4 FT - 8 FT - tall
    Flowers: white blooms in summer
    Uses: clumping, dense, fall color, fragrant, woodland garden

    GROWING CONDITIONS for Clethra alnifolia

    USDA Zones: 4a - 9b
    Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
    Watering frequency: even moisture - regular

    Nursery contributed plant descriptions

    So fragrant is this spicily-scented eastern native shrub that it was also called "Sailor's Delight" by those who could smell it far out to sea!; 3-6' with glossy leaves that turn a nice yellow in fall. Sun-PSh/Med-Wet

    By: Forestfarm

    White fragrant flowers in 4 inch spikes above the glossy green leaves, yellow fall color. Moist soil. Zones 4-8

    By: Lael's Moon Garden

    Grown for their strong fragrant flowers. Clethra is an upright, deciduous, slow growing shrub that suckers close to the mother plant, forming a dense clump that usually gets 4-6' tall. Leaves are oval, mid-green and turn yellow in autumn. In late summer small bell-shaped flowers appear on 4-6" upright racemes and last up to six weeks. We have several large bushes of it in our gardens here, and it is a beautiful sight in late summer when the season is winding down. Full sun to part shade.

    By: Greer Gardens Inc.

    Spires of fragrant white and pink flowers in midsummer add a richness to the garden when other shrubs have finished blooming. Dense deciduous shrub 4-6' tall and wide. Bumble bees love it.

    By: Dancing Oaks Nursery

    Gardening facts about Clethra alnifolia plant

    How to Grow Clethra alnifolia

    • Sun Exposure

      • sun - mostly shade

    • Water Needs

      • even moisture - regular

    • Soil Needs

      • adaptable

    Features

    • Foliage Color

      • green

    • Flower Color

      • white

    • Wildlife

      • bees

    • Flower Season

      • summer

    • Foliage Season

      • deciduous

    See other plant types of Clethra for your garden

    Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice'

    aka Ruby Spice Summer Sweet, Sweet Pepperbush

    Plant Type

    Shrub

    Zones

    4a-9b

    Size

    Height: 4'-8'

    Width: 3'-5'

    • sun - mostly shade
    • even moisture - high
    Photo of Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice' flower by Hoot Owl Hollow Nursery
    View Plant

    Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird'

    aka Hummingbird Summer Sweet, Hummingbird Sweet Pepperbush

    Plant Type

    Shrub

    Zones

    3a-9b

    Size

    Height: 2'-4'

    Width: 3'-5'

    • sun - mostly sun
    • even moisture - high
    Photo of Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird' flower by Hoot Owl Hollow Nursery
    View Plant

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    Clethra alnifolia 'Sixteen Candles'

    aka Sixteen Candles Summer Sweet, Summersweet

    Plant Type

    Shrub

    Zones

    4a-9b

    Size

    Height: 30"-60"

    Width: 24"-48"

    • sun - mostly shade
    • even moisture - regular
    Photo of Clethra alnifolia 'Sixteen Candles' flower, foliage by Briggs Plant Propagators
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    Clethra alnifolia 'Pink Spires'

    aka Pink Spires Sweet Pepperbush

    Plant Type

    Shrub

    Zones

    4a-8b

    Size

    Height: 3'-8'

    Width: 4'-6'

    • sun - mostly shade
    • even moisture - high
    Photo of Clethra alnifolia 'Pink Spires' flower by Forestfarm
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    Clethra alnifolia 'Sherry Sue'

    aka Red Stem Clethra, Redtwig Summersweet

    Plant Type

    Shrub

    Zones

    4a-9b

    Size

    Height: 4'-6'

    Width: 4'-6'

    • sun - shade
    • even moisture - regular
    Photo of Clethra alnifolia 'Sherry Sue' flower by Forestfarm
    View Plant

    More Options

    +18 more Clethra
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