Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice'

Sizes available: 4" pot

Basics: zones 3-8, 4-6' x 3-5', full sun to part shade, fragrant, pink flowers in mid-late summer, moist to wet, acidic, sandy soil, tolerant of occasional drought and flooding

Common names: Summersweet, Sweet Pepperbush, Alderleaf Clethra

Family: Clethraceae

Origin/Distribution: The species is found along the coast of the eastern United States from Maine to Florida and inland, west to Texas. The species is native to Maine. 

'Ruby Spice' was discovered as a sport in 1992 on Clethra alnifolia 'Pink Spire'. It is the pinkest flowering of the Summersweet cultivars

Habitat: In the wild, C. alnifolia prefers sandy, swampy woods and marshes, stream banks, and the seashore.

More: Provides both pollen and nectar to butterflies and bees, is a good cut branch for flower arrangements, can grow in quite a bit of shade (I am curious to see how much), is salt tolerant and deer resistant. Summersweet flowers on new wood and may sucker in the right conditions, so remove those if you are not interested in the hedgerow vibe. It has a long flowering time and is part of my cut flower ramp-up/Multiflora Rose mitigation project along with numerous other native and non-native shrubs. My sense is that this is a tough, adaptable shrub. I will keep you posted.

Nursery: Spring Meadow

Image credit: Spring Meadow Nursery