Scientific Name:	Clethra alnifolia
Pronunciation:	KLETH-ruh al-nih-FOE-lee-uh
Common Name:	summersweet, sweet pepperbush
Family Name:	Clethraceae
Plant Type:	Shrub - deciduous
Key ID Features:	Suckering; leaves alternate, serrated with less than 40 teeth per side, to 10 cm long; flowers fragrant, white (or pink cv.), racemes, <15 cm, late summer. Winter ID: leaf scar almost circular, raised bundle scars; buds small, red, wart-like; capsules brown, oval, persistent.
Course(s):	CLT Training, HORT 2355

Habit: Upright Form: Round Texture: Medium Mature Size: Height: 2 - 3m Spread: 2 - 3m Growth Rate: Moderate Origin: Canada - eastern, U.S. - northeast Hardiness Rating: Zone 3: (-40 to -34 C) Exposure: Filtered shade, Part sun/part shade Soil/ Growing Medium: Acidic, Humus rich Water Use: Wetlands Landscape Uses: Attract butterflies, Fragrance, Mixed shrub border, Summer interest, Woodland margin Additional Info: Google. Cultivars shown or on campus include C. 'Ruby Spice'.

Leaf Morphology: Form: Simple Arrangement: Alternate Texture/ Venation: Soft flexible Surfaces: Glabrous Colour in Summer: Green Colour in Fall: Yellow Leaf(let) Terms: Shapes: Elliptic, Obovate Apices: Acute Bases: Cuneate Margins: Dentate, Serrate

Inflorescence Type: Floriferous, Raceme Flower Morphology: Flowers perfect Number of Petals: 5 Corolla Shape: Campanulate Colour (petals): Showy, White, Pink, (C. 'Ruby Spice' has pinkish flowers.) Flower Scent: Fragrant Flower Time at Peak: Jul, Aug, Sep Additional Info: C. 'Paniculata' forms panicles; stamens 10

Fruit Type: Capsule Fruit Colour: Brown Fruiting Time: Oct, Nov Additional Info: Not showy, Accessory tissue, Persistent, 3-valved, enclosed in an enlarged calyx

Bark or Stem Colour:     Organ Modifications: Runners (or stolons)

Propagation:	Seed, Cuttings
Pest Susceptibility:	Pest resistant, Disease resistant, Deer resistant

Location(s): (ONE) Overpass North side East : cv. Ruby Spice (ONW) Overpass North side West Location Map

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