Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’
Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice' is a compact shrub with pink and white bottlebrush flowers that are fragrant and nectar-rich.
Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’, known as summersweet or sweet pepperbush, is a beautiful, densely branched, slow spreading shrub that displays bottlebrush spikes of fragrant, nectar-rich, rosy-pink and white flowers that bloom from late summer to fall giving way to dark brown fruits for winter interest. Foliage is dark green and glossy. Very floriferous and dependable. Use in mixed shrub borders, or in partly shaded or woodland gardens or near water features in average to moist soils. Spreads by root suckers. Blooms on new wood. Nice golden yellow fall colour. A Canadian native to Nova Scotia. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Deer resistant.
Common Name: Summersweet
Family: Clethraceae (The Clethra Family)
Zone Hardiness: 3-9
Light: Part Sun, Part Shade, Full Sun, Full Shade
Height: 4-6'
Width: 3-5'
Primary Bloom Colour: Pink
Secondary Bloom Colour: White/Cream
Bloom Time: Summer - Fall
Foliage Colour: Green, Good Fall Colour
Class: Deciduous
Type: Shrub
Soil Moisture: Average, Moist, Wet
Stem Colour:
Fragrance: Yes
Berries:
Benefits: Hummingbirds, Butterflies, Bees
Deer Resistant: Yes
BC Native: No
Native Habitat: Woodland, swamps and rocky places from Nova Scotia along the US eastern seabord to Texas.
Award: AGM
Geographical Origin: North America, Garden Origin
