PlantFiles: Summersweet, Sweet Pepper Bush
Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice'

Blooms mid summer, when spring flowers have faded. Attracts pollinators of all sorts. Sweet perfume is delightful from several feet away. New growth comes from roots so can be used on a bank to help with erosion.

Neat bush with attractive fragrance. I have this planted in my backyard in partial shade. This is its first year and it had medium growth.

The last to put out its leaves in the Spring in my yard, it pays back the late foliage with beautiful unusually deep pink spires that fill the yard with a wonderful scent. This plant goes in all lighting conditions from full shade to full sun. Can also be grown at the seashore. Leaves are luscious deep green turning bright yellow in the fall. Branches have an interesting sinuous growth habit. A winner all-round.

Atlanta - I have had this plant in full sun - full, HOT, afternoon sun - for two or three years and it has done well here. I did not know it wanted to be moist and did not water it, as it exceeded the reach of my hose. It still did pretty well, but now that I have a new 100' hose and KNOW now it wants more water, it is looking much fuller and happier! Probably the blooms will last longer also.

I have been quite pleased with this cultivar. Though late to leaf out it has beautiful dark blue green leaves. The plant starts flowering in early to mid july here in Illinois. It continually blooms for a month. The flowers may not be extremely fragrant at first but eventually develop a wonderful spicy sweet aroma that carries throughout the yard. These shrubs are also very useful for some excellent yellow fall color that is not too common in shrubs. I have planted this shrub in places that offer afternoon shade or full sun on other plaves on a steep slope. Have not noticed any leaf scorch or wilting and supplied limited irrigation during dry periods and probably wouldnt be necessary at all in my yard.

Easily grown in average, medium wet to wet, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Adaptive to wide range of soil, moisture and light conditions. Prefers part shade and consistently moist to wet, acidic soils. Tolerates full shade, however. Spreads slowly by rhizomes

Fragrant deep pink flowers on glossy green foliage appear in late summer. Grows naturally in wet places; plant in moist acid soil amended with organic matter. Grows best in partial shade. A favorite of butterflies and hummingbirds. Introduced by Broken Arrow Nursery in CT.

Slow to medium growth rate. If necessary, prune in early spring.