Summersweet
Clethra alnifolia ‘Crystalina’ Sugartina®
If we close our eyes, we can almost smell Summersweet’s aroma drifting on the breeze… As its name implies, bloom time for Summersweet is July through August. This cultivar has bright white clustered flower spikes that are 4-6″ long and are attractive to all sorts of pollinators and people. ‘Crystalina’ also has a low, compact mounding form, much smaller than the straight species. It may sucker from the roots to form a naturalized colony, but if that look is not for you, simply snip those suckers to the base whenever you have your pruners handy but be sure not to damage the main stems!
Conditions: Full sun to full shade; medium to wet soils (don’t allow it to dry out!)
Size: 2′ – 3′ tall, 3′ – 4′ spread
Zone: 4 – 8
Wildlife Value: Flowers provide pollen and nectar for bees and butterflies; fruit is eaten by birds and small mammals; stems provide cover for many types of wildlife
