Clethra alnifolia Pink SpireSummersweet
科:桤叶树科
Family:Clethraceae
属:桤叶树属
common name:Summersweet
introduce:Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
Family: Clethraceae
Missouri Native: No
Native Range: None
Height: 3 to 8 feet
Spread: 4 to 6 feet
Bloom Time: July - August
Bloom Color: Shell pink
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium wet to wet soils in full sun to part shade. Prefers part shade and consistently moist, acidic soils. Tolerates full shade. Promptly remove root suckers unless naturalized look is desired.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
This summersweet cultivar is a densely-branched, rounded, suckering deciduous shrub which typically grows 3-8 tall and features narrow, fluffy, bottlebrush-like, terminal racemes (2-6" long) of extremely fragrant, shell pink flowers which bloom on current growth for approximately 4-6 weeks in July and August. Toothed, ovate-oblong, glossy dark green leaves (to 4" long) turn a variable but generally attractive yellow/golden brown in fall. Flowers give way to dark brown seed capsules which may persist well into winter. Flowers are very attractive to butterflies and bees. Somewhat unique among summer-flowering shrubs because of its ability to produce bloom in shady locations.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses:
Mass or group in lawns, foundation plantings or shrub borders. Good flowering shrub for shade or woodland gardens. Also appropriate for moist soils along stream banks or pond/water garden margins. Also may be naturalized in cottage gardens, wild gardens or naturalized areas.
