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Clethraceae
Distribution
White alder family
A family with two genera (Clethra and
Purdiaea) and about 75 species.
Distributed mostly in tropical and
subtropical Asia and the Americas.
There are a few species native to
temperate North America and Asia.
Clethraceae
Clethra alnifolia – Summersweet clethra
Summersweet clethra (also
sweet pepperbush) is a
deciduous native shrub grown
for its fragrant summer
flowers.
It is best used in a mixed
shrub border.
Native to eastern North
America from Maine to
Florida west to Texas.
Clethraceae
Clethra alnifolia – Summersweet clethra
Growth habit – An upright
to oval, dense shrub growing
to 8 feet tall and 6 feet
wide.
Plants can spread by
forming suckering colonies.
Clethraceae
Clethra alnifolia – Summersweet clethra
Flower – White, fragrant flowers are held
in upright to nodding panicles or racemes
and appear in June through July.
Clethraceae
Clethra alnifolia – Summersweet clethra
Fruit – Fruits are a dry capsule
and are not ornamental.
Clethraceae
Clethra alnifolia – Summersweet clethra
Leaf – Leaves are alternate, simple
and oblong to obovate in shape.
Leaves about 3-inches long and the
margin is serrate.
Yellow autumn color.
Clethraceae
Clethra alnifolia – Summersweet clethra
Leaf – Yellow autumn color.
Clethraceae
Clethra alnifolia – Summersweet clethra
Culture:
Full sun to partial shade.
Needs a moist, slightly
acidic soil.
Hardy in zones 9 to 4.
Clethraceae
Clethra alnifolia – Summersweet clethra
Cultivars:
‘Hummingbird’ is a white
flowering compact form
only reaching 3.5 feet tall.
Clethraceae
Clethra alnifolia – Summersweet clethra
Cultivars:
‘Ruby Spice’ is a budsport from ‘Pink
Spires’ with a deeper rosy-pink flower.
Clethraceae
Clethra alnifolia – Summersweet clethra
Cultivars:
‘Pink Spires’ has pink buds and
light pink flowers.
Plants can grow over 6 feet tall.
Clethraceae
Clethra alnifolia – Summersweet clethra
Cultivars:
‘Sixteen Candles’ is a white
flowering form with large
upright inflorescences.
Plants grow to 5 feet tall.
Clethraceae
Clethra alnifolia – Summersweet clethra
Cultivars:
‘Sherry Sue’ is an interesting
white flowering form with red
to pink stems.