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Summersweet

Clethra Alnifolia

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Overview

Summersweet, Clethra alnifolia, thrives in USDA zones 4-9 with a mature height of 3-8 feet and a spread of 4-6 feet. This deciduous shrub features fragrant, white-to-pink blooms in late summer, serving as a pollinator magnet. Plant in full sun to part shade in moist, acidic soil. Excellent for rain gardens or naturalized areas, it adds multi-season interest with its fall foliage and exfoliating bark.

Sun Full, Half, ShadeWater HighZones 3–9Type Shrub
Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — shrub for full or half or shade; supporting local wildlife
Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — shrub with white blooms; summersweet unveils its visual and olfactory charm, image 80Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — when many other plants have completed their bloom cycleSummersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — white flowers in the garden; it thrives in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 9Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — This broadleaf shrub is relatively low maintenance; this deciduous shrub features fragrant, white-to-pink blooms, image 74Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — Recognized for its adaptability; scientifically known as Clethra alnifolia, image 63Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — Recognized for its adaptability+103

Culture

Sun
Full, Half, Shade
Water
High
USDA zones
3–9

Shape & size

Mature height
3–8 Ft.
Mature width
4–6 Ft.

Classification

Type
Shrub
Family
Clethraceae

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Photos (110)

Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — shrub for full or half or shade; supporting local wildlife
Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — shrub with white blooms; summersweet unveils its visual and olfactory charm, image 80
Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — when many other plants have completed their bloom cycle
Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — white flowers in the garden; it thrives in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 9
Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — This broadleaf shrub is relatively low maintenance; this deciduous shrub features fragrant, white-to-pink blooms, image 74
Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — Recognized for its adaptability; scientifically known as Clethra alnifolia, image 63
Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — Recognized for its adaptability
Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — Recognized for its adaptability; scientifically known as Clethra alnifolia
Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — dark green leaves that transition to a striking yellow or golden-brown in the fall; and it is largely resistant to pests and
Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — is a versatile deciduous shrub native to North America; dark green leaves that transition to a striking yellow or, image 61
Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — dark green leaves that transition to a striking yellow or golden-brown in the fall; and it is largely resistant, image 73
Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — Plant in full sun to part shade in moist, acidic soil; upright spikes of fragrant white or pink flowers emerge
Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — with a similar spread of 4 to 6 feet
Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — well-drained soils but capable of withstanding periodic waterlogging
Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — Summersweet unveils its visual and olfactory charm; that offers multi-seasonal interest to any landscape design, image 71
Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — it adds multi-season interest with its fall foliage and exfoliating bark, image 59
Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — supporting local wildlife
Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — it adds multi-season interest with its fall foliage and exfoliating bark, image 86
Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — To share with your client, image 50
Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — and it is largely resistant to pests and diseases; when many other plants have completed their bloom cycle
Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — thrives in USDA zones 4-9 with a mature height of 3-8 feet and a spread of 4-6 feet; excellent for rain gardens or, image 82
Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — that offers multi-seasonal interest to any landscape design; shrub with white blooms
Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — Summersweet is particularly forgiving of various soil conditions; shrub for full or half or shade, image 66
Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia) — This deciduous shrub features fragrant, white-to-pink blooms in late summer, serving as a pollinator magnet
Photographs by 13 contributors

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