Sixteen Candles Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia 'Sixteen Candles') offers a joyful display of upright, candle-like flower spikes in mid to late summer. The pure white blossoms release a sweet fragrance that draws butterflies, hummingbirds, and other welcome pollinators. Standing around four to five feet high and three feet wide at maturity, it fills the air with a soft, sugary scent and enlivens any garden space with its appealing bottlebrush blooms. Its naturally compact shape, paired with glossy green leaves, makes this shrub a lovely centerpiece in smaller borders or alongside outdoor seating areas.
Sixteen Candles Summersweet is native to eastern North America, so it’s well adapted to a range of climates and conditions. It tolerates sun or partial shade, thrives in moisture-retentive or even boggy soils, and can handle damp woodland gardens just as easily as a partly sunny hedge. It is deer resistance and works well as a mass grouping, informal screen, or a feature in mixed containers. The blooms are known for their mesmerizing scent, which keeps the garden abuzz with flying visitors all season.
Sixteen Candles Summersweet Care
Set Sixteen Candles Summersweet in a spot with morning or filtered sun and ensure the soil remains consistently moist, especially during the establishment phase. A slightly acidic, well-drained medium is best, although it can handle clay or wet sites. Deep watering once or twice a week (depending on the weather) helps keep roots happy, and adding a layer of mulch will preserve moisture while keeping weeds at bay. Feeding is optional, though a light application of balanced fertilizer in early spring encourages growth and flowering. Remember that this shrub flowers on new wood, so any late winter pruning won’t affect the bloom show.
Pruning involves removing any damaged or overgrown branches after flowering. You can lightly thin or shape the plant if needed, but extensive pruning is rarely necessary. In containers, it appreciates regular watering and occasional checkups to prevent root bind. With basic care, it will reward you with a glorious summer spectacle of sweet-scented blossoms each year.
Sixteen Candles Summersweet Spacing
For a tight hedge or continuous mass, space them about three feet apart. If you’d like to allow more defined spacing or maintain airflow, place them five to eight feet apart. When potting in containers, choose one several inches larger than the root-ball width to give it room to develop a full root system.
Photo(s) by Sten Porse
- SKU:
- 1231003037-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.
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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