- Partial Shade to Full Sun (At Least 3 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)
- Mature Height 4 - 6 Feet
- Mature Spread 4 - 6 Feet
- Growing Zones 4 - 9
Summersweet is a deciduous shrub that is very adaptable and provides a burst of color later in the season. The deep pink flowers grow in clusters and retain their saturated hue for a dependable pop of color throughout the growing season. Clethra alnifolia blooms during July and August, and the plant also features glossy green oval-shaped foliage that comes to a point and has slightly serrated edges.
This is an upright, mounded plant with woody stems, making it a wonderful hedge or specimen. As a North American native, Summersweet is easy to maintain. The fragrant flowers will draw pollinators, like bees and butterflies, to your landscape, and once the flowers fade, they are replaced with small fruit that birds will feed on. This beauty is deer-resistant, so the greenery and foliage will stay in place even in areas with increased animal populations. Ruby Spice Summersweet is a perennial in USDA zones 4 through 9.
Ruby Spice Summersweet Care
Summersweet can grow in full sun or part shade, and this stunner will continue to push out plenty of beautiful blooms even when grown in lower light. This plant can handle just about any pH level, but it will grow best in acidic soil. The soil should also be moist or well-drained. Keep the soil consistently damp (not saturated), and water before it dries out.
Fertilize using a slow-release plant food during the early spring. You can deadhead the plant to give it a clean look or leave the flowers, which will attract birds.
Ruby Spice Summersweet Spacing
This is an upright, mounded shrub that will grow 4 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide. Ruby Spice Summersweet plants can be spaced as close as 2 to 3 feet to create a hedge.
Ruby Spice Summersweet Information
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 - 9 |
Plant Type: Bushes |
Light Exposure: Partial Shade to Full Sun (At Least 3 Hours Of Direct Sunlight) |
Mature Height: 4 - 6 Feet |
Mature Spread: 4 - 6 Feet |
Spacing: 4 - 6 Feet |
Habit: Upright |
Flower Color(s): Pink |
Flower Description: Reddish Pink |
Bloom Period: |
Foliage Type: Deciduous |
Foliage Color(s): Green |
Foliage Description: |
Seasonal Interest: Summer Flowering, Fall Flowering |
Watering: Average |
Resists: Deer |
Tolerates: Salt |
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
Container Role: |
Uses: Wildlife Gardens |
Features: Attracts Pollinators, Fragrant, Native to North America |
Brand: |
Common Name: Ruby Spice Summersweet |
Other Name(s): |
Scientific Name: CLETHRA ALNIFOLIA `RUBY SPICE` |
- SKU:
- 1001757-pc
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
For more detailed information, please click here.
Plant Addict Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)

Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)

Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations
Plant Shipping
Time of Order:
Summer Shipping
- If there is extreme heat we’ll delay shipping.
- We’ll have to review what areas the plants are traveling through along with your location
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an email with tracking information. Depending on the above criteria we’ll ship your plant(s) towards beginning of the following week from your order. We put together this helpful guide of what to do when you receive your plants in the mail.
It is important to know that all of our plants are clearly labeled for which growing zones the plant can survive in. The plants are thoroughly trialed and tested in every growing zone before we state the plant can grow in a zone. Again, our #1 priority is to ship the plants to you healthy and ready to thrive in your location. So we will do everything in our power to do so.