Fantastic Flowering Clethra

August 5, 2011

Clethra 'Ruby Spice'

Clethra - Summersweet

This North American native shrub can be found growing in wetland areas throughout zones 4-9.  The plant produces sweetly-fragrant flower spikes in late summer that attract butterflies, hummingbirds and bees.  The resulting seed heads provide food for birds as well.  Clethra does best in full sun to part shade and is useful in poor drainage areas because of its tolerance to moisture.  It will not flourish in hot, dry locations.  Cultivars that are available include 'Hummingbird', 'Ruby Spice', 'Vanilla Spice' and 'Sugartina'.

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