Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’

Description

Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’

Ruby Spice Summersweet

Summersweet, is a deciduous shrub that is native to swampy woodlands, wet marshes, stream banks and seashores, often in sandy soils, along the coast from Maine to Florida and west to Texas. 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 pink flowers which appear in narrow, upright panicles (racemes to 2-6″ long). Flowers give way to dark brown seed capsules (1/8″ diameter) which may persist into winter. Serrate, obovate to oblong, glossy dark green leaves (to 3-4” long) turn variable but generally attractive shades of yellow to golden brown in fall. Flowers are very attractive to butterflies and bees.

Zone: 4 to 8

Height: 4.00 to 6.00 feet

Spread: 3.00 to 5.00 feet

Bloom Time: July to August

Bloom Description: Rose pink

Sun: Full sun to part shade

Water: Medium to wet

Maintenance: Low

Suggested Use: Hedge, Naturalize, Rain Garden

Flower: Showy, Fragrant

Leaf: Good Fall

Attracts: Butterflies

Tolerate: Heavy Shade, Erosion, Clay Soil, Wet Soil