Clethra alnifolia
Object Details
- Description
- This shrub is excellent for late summer blooms, and works well as either a stand-alone shrub or a hedge. It tolerates shade and clay soils, but prefers sandy soils that are kept consistently moist. One of its common names, “pepperbush” refers to the resemblance of the plant’s fruits to peppercorns – although they have no spiciness.
- Hardiness
- -40 - 30 F
- Attracts
- Butterflies to nectar
- Bloom Time
- July to August
- Provenance
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Range
- SE Canada to Texas
- Habitat
- Swampy woodlands, marshes, seashores; 0-656ft (0-200m)
- Topic
- Display Gardens
- Living Collections
- See more items in
- Smithsonian Gardens Display Collection
- On Display
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Data Source
- Smithsonian Gardens
- Accession Number
- 2021-0673A
- Restrictions & Rights
- CC0
- Common Name
- Coastal Sweet Pepperbush
- Pink spire
- Summersweet
- Group
- [vascular plants]
- Class
- Equisetopsida
- Subclass
- Magnoliidae
- Superorder
- Asteranae
- Order
- Ericales
- Family
- Clethraceae
- Genus
- Clethra
- Species
- alnifolia
- Life Form
- Deciduous shrub/sub-shrub
- Bloom Characteristics
- Narrow, upright panicles are 2-6" (5-15.25 cm) long with white flowers.
- Fall Color
- Yellow to brown
- Foliage Characteristics
- Alternate, simple, obovate to oblong, glossy, dark green leaves have serrated margines, and are 3-4" (7.6-10.2 cm) long.
- Fragrance
- Sweet
- Fruit Characteristics
- Seed capsules are brown and may persist into winter. .12" (.3 cm) across.
- Plant Size
- 3-8' tall by 4-6' wide (.92-2.44 x 1.22-1.83 meters)
- Structure
- Rounded
- Record ID
- ofeo-sg_2021-0673A
