- 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:
- 1231001757-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.
4.5" Pot
Also Known As:
4.5" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.5"H x 3.75"W
Volume:
1.42 quarts
Quart Pot
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
2.5 Quart
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
#1 Pot
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
#2 Pot
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
#3 Pot
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
For more detailed information, please click here.
Plant Addicts Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts always guarantees your plant(s) will arrive happy & healthy. However, plant(s) are being shipped through the mail & sometimes accidents happen. If the plant is dead, has dried out roots or the incorrect item was shipped, just notify Plant Addicts within 3 days upon delivery. We may ask for pictures but will try to make it as easy as possible for you. Please note, plant(s) with damaged branches or wilted leaves will not qualify for this guarantee. Plants are very resilient and will rebound quickly when cared for correctly.
For more information on how to care for your new plants, please click on our guide below.
Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
We encourage all plant lovers to purchase the Plant Addicts Warranty, whether you're a new gardener or an expert. There are many variables outside of anyone's control that can cause a plant to die. Hungry animals, drought, poor soil conditions, over watering, diseases & pests are all good examples of what can cause plants to die. The Plant Addicts Warranty is a 1 year warranty protecting you from all of the unknowns and will replace your plant if something were to happen to it.
The warranty is purchased on a per plant basis and must be purchased at the same time as the plant(s). We will cover 100% of the price of the plant, but the warranty does not cover shipping costs. SImply let us know if your plant has died within 1 year of receiving it and we will get you a new one shipped out as soon as possible (depending on the time of the year and availability). We may ask for photos for documentation purposes, but we try to make the process as easy as possible.
For more information, please click on our page below.
Plant Shipping
Below are some factors we consider when determining when to ship the plants depending on the timing of the order.
Winter to Early Spring
We ship only when it's warm enough to plant in your growing zone.
Sometimes plants aren't completely ready to sell and ship in early spring. We will wait until the plants are ready before shipping so you don't get a subpar product.
For Southern plants we will be able to ship much earlier than plants coming from our northern nursery.
Summer
If there is extreme heat we may delay shipping for a week or several weeks.
We review what areas the plants are traveling through as well as your location.
Fall into Winter
We’ll ship plants out all the way up to the end of the fall planting season!
Winter
Get your order in early to reserve your plants for Spring planting!
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an automated email with tracking information.
Click here for more detailed shipping information.
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