
Light Needs

Mature Height

Mature Spread

Growing Zones
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:
- 1231001757-pc
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.

Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts

Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts

Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts

Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons

Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons

Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons

We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2025 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.

Pre-ordered plants are scheduled to ship in Spring 2025. We carefully plan our shipping dates based on your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to ensure optimal planting conditions upon arrival. Want it sooner/later? Reach out, and we'll try our best to accommodate.
Estimated ship week for pre-ordered plants will ship based on growing zones as shown below.
Growing Zone | Estimated Ship Week |
---|---|
Zone 10 | March 31th |
Zone 9 | March 31st |
Zone 8 | April 7th |
Zone 7 | April 14th |
Zone 6b | April 21st |
Zone 6a | April 28th |
Zone 5b | May 5th |
Zone 5a | May 12th |
Zone 4 | May 19th |
Zone 3 | May 26th |
Note: These are only estimated ship dates. Plants may ship out later depending on weather & growing conditions of the plant.
Note: Only plants indicated as pre-order will ship as shown above. All other plants and hard goods will ship as normal.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: Idaho, AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!