Coastal Pepperbush, Coastal Sweet Pepperbush, Coastal Sweet Pepper, Alderleaf Pepperbush, Alderleaf Clethra, Clethra, Summer Sweet, Clethra tomentosa
Gloriously fragrant, Clethra alnifolia (Summersweet) is a slowly spreading, densely-branched, deciduous shrub boasting bottlebrush spikes of extremely fragrant white flowers in mid to late summer. Lasting about 4-6 weeks, the blossoms open from bottom to top. They are very attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators at a time of the year when there’s not a wealth of nectar to choose from. The flowers give way to spikes of dark brown fruits, which persist into winter, providing continuing interest. The serrated, glossy, dark green foliage turns golden yellow in fall. One of its most attractive characteristics is that it produces great blooms in shady locations. This summer-flowering shrub spreads slowly by suckers, forming large colonies. Free of any disease or pest problems, it is excellent for coastal gardens due to salt-spray tolerance, in shrub borders, or along streams and ponds. A dependable shrub native from coastal Maine south to north Florida and then west to the eastern edge of Texas.
| Hardiness |
3 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 9 |
| Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, A2, A3 |
| Plant Type | Shrubs |
| Plant Family | Clethraceae |
| Genus | Clethra |
| Common names | Clethra |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade |
| Season of Interest | Summer (Mid, Late), Fall |
| Height | 3' - 8' (90cm - 240cm) |
| Spread | 4' - 6' (120cm - 180cm) |
| Spacing | 48" - 72" (120cm - 180cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Fragrant, Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Texas |
| Tolerance | Full Shade, Deer, Salt, Clay Soil, Wet Soil |
| Attracts | Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Ponds And Streams, Rain Gardens |
| Garden Styles | Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow, Traditional Garden |
| Hardiness |
3 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 9 |
| Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, A2, A3 |
| Plant Type | Shrubs |
| Plant Family | Clethraceae |
| Genus | Clethra |
| Common names | Clethra |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade |
| Season of Interest | Summer (Mid, Late), Fall |
| Height | 3' - 8' (90cm - 240cm) |
| Spread | 4' - 6' (120cm - 180cm) |
| Spacing | 48" - 72" (120cm - 180cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Fragrant, Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Texas |
| Tolerance | Full Shade, Deer, Salt, Clay Soil, Wet Soil |
| Attracts | Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Ponds And Streams, Rain Gardens |
| Garden Styles | Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow, Traditional Garden |
How many Clethra alnifolia (Summersweet) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Clethra alnifolia (Summersweet) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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