Clethra alnifolia

Clethra alnifoliaClethra alnifolia, commonly called summersweet, is a deciduous shrub that is native to swampy woodlands, wet marshes, stream banks and seashores, often in sandy soils, along the coast. It is a rounded, suckering, densely branched, deciduous shrub that typically grows to 3 6 tall and is noted for producing a mid to late summer bloom of sweetly fragrant white flowers which appear in narrow, upright panicles. Flowers give way to dark brown seed capsules.

An herbaceous perennial

Soil Quality: Average Soil Quality

Deep green foliage and a strong central leader give this versatile

Bloom Time: Middle summer

Attracts: Butterflies & Bees

overlapping

Creamy white blooms sporadically emerge throughout the season

this tree is the prototype for the perfect

Fall color is usually undistinguished

deciduous climber which produces masses of large

called prairie dropseed

It is useful for adding a spot of color to the garden late in the season when many other plants are finished