Clethra alnifolia

Sweet pepper bush or summersweet is a deciduous shrub from the east coast of USA, occurring in moist locations to wetlands, and on stream banks. It is a trouble-free plant which is becoming popular again in our country thanks to its strongly scented flowers and fresh green foliage.

Summersweet is a medium-sized shrub producing profusion of flowers composed in upright racemes 10-15 cm long which open in July and August. They have a lovely, strong, sweet fragrance, hence its name. Oval leaves are deciduous, mid-green, upto 10 cm long, finely serrated, and look a bit like hydrangea leaves. For dense foliage it does not like being shaded by other, smaller companion plants too close. It naturally forms a bushy, upright growing shrub which makes it an ideal choice for multi-species informal hedge. Pruning can be done in early spring, you can cut up to 30% of previous year’s growth.

Grow it in acid, fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Young plants can be planted in partly wet conditions while older plants needs good drainage not to rot before they establish. Then they can cope with occasional flooding, too. Fully hardy to -34°C or more (USDA zone 4).

Last update 26-09-2019