Items 1 to 7 of 7 total
Items 1 to 7 of 7 total
Summersweet
Uses:
- Garden Borders
- Rain Gardens
- Foundation Planting
- Sensory Gardens
Features:
- Spiky, Fragrant Flowers
- Pest & Disease Resistant
- Fall Color
Sunlight:
- Partial Shade to Full Sun
- 3+ Hours of Direct Sun
Growing Zones:
- 3-9
- What is My Zone?
Summersweet is a deciduous shrub prized for its fragrant, white flower spikes that bloom for weeks in mid-summer. The spicy blooms attract pollinators and mature to brown seed capsules that feed birds in the fall. These native shrubs make excellent focal points or flowering hedges for wildlife. They grow well in damp locations and can be planted near streams, ponds, and bogs.
About Summersweet
Genus
Species
Family
Clethra
Clethra alnifolia
Clethraceae
Common Names:
Sweet Pepper Bush
Native To:
Eastern North America
Plant Type:
Bushes
Foliage Type:
Deciduous
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
3 - 9
Flower Color:
Flower Bloom Time:
Mid to late summer
Growth Habit:
Upright, mounded
Attracts:
Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, birds, insects
Tolerates:
Partial Shade to Full Sun Drought
Resists:
Deer, Rabbits, Voles, Pests
How To Use Summersweet In The Garden
Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) is a deciduous shrub renowned for its highly fragrant, bottlebrush-like white flower spikes that bloom in mid to late summer and attract a variety of pollinators. The glossy, dark green leaves transition to a rich golden yellow in the fall for added seasonal interest. This shrub thrives in moist, acidic soils and can tolerate full sun to partial shade, making it adaptable to various garden settings.
Summersweet tolerates wet conditions and is useful for planting along streams, ponds, or in rain gardens to aid in erosion control. The shrub's dense growth habit also allows it to function effectively as a natural hedge or privacy screen. Additionally, its late-season blooms provide a valuable nectar source for pollinators when few other plants are in flower.
Summersweet Care
Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) thrives when planted in locations offering full sun to partial shade. It adapts to various soil types, including clay, sand, and loam, but shows a preference for slightly acidic conditions. Maintaining consistent soil moisture is crucial, as this shrub does not tolerate prolonged drought. Applying a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring supports healthy growth and abundant flowering.
Pruning should be conducted in early spring to remove any dead or damaged branches, promoting vigorous new growth. While Summersweet is cold-hardy, applying a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the base helps protect the roots during winter and aids in moisture retention. When growing in containers, use well-draining soil and position the container in a spot that receives morning sun and afternoon shade to prevent leaf scorch.
Learn More About Summersweet
Summersweet Companion Plants
Plant companions must accept full-to-partial sun, soils that stay consistently moist—even boggy at times—and the slow, sucker-forming habit of summersweet. Deep-colored ninebark and bright-stemmed red twig dogwood flourish in the same wet ground, framing clethra’s late spires with year-round bark drama and matching its minimal-prune routine. In front, coneflowers lure bees through midsummer droughts that summersweet also withstands, while lofty Joe Pye weed echoes the shrub’s pollinator-rich blooms and extends nectar well into autumn.
