Clethra alnifolia: Sweet Pepperbush for Shade and Fragrance

Clethra alnifolia – Bottlebrush Flowers in Shade

Upright suckering shrub with fragrant white or pink terminal flower spikes in late summer (like bottlebrushes) attracting butterflies and bees. Leaves turn pleasant yellow in autumn. Cultivars include 'Paniculata', 'Rosea', 'Pink Spires', 'Hummingbird'. Blooms well in shady areas.

Culture

Dappled or partial shade, fertile acidic moist well-drained soil. In winter, remove oldest wood at base. Propagate by seed at 43–54°F in spring/autumn, greenwood cuttings early summer. Pests: fungal dieback and root rot.

Key Facts

• Height/Spread: 6–10 ft.
• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Moisture: Medium
• Bloom: Late summer (pink, white)
• Features: Native, fragrant, attracts hummingbirds, deer-tolerant