| Scientific Name: | Clethra alnifolia |
| Common Name: | summersweet, sweet pepperbush |
| Family Name: | Clethraceae |
| Origin: | Canada - eastern, U.S. - northeast |
| Hardiness Zone: | Zone 3: (-40 to -34 °C) |
| Plant Type: | Shrub - deciduous |
| Mature Size: | 2 - 3m x 2 - 3m (height x width) |
| Habit: | Upright |
| Form: | Round |
| Texture: | Medium |
| Landscape Uses: | Attract butterflies, Fragrance, Mixed shrub border, Summer interest, Woodland margin |
| Exposure: | Part sun/part shade, Filtered shade |
| Soil or Media: | Acidic, Humus rich |
| Leaves: | Simple, Alternate, Soft flexible, Glabrous, Elliptic, Obovate, Dentate, Serrate |
| Flowers: | Raceme, White, Pink, Jul-Aug-Sep |
| Fruit: | Capsule, (Accessory tissue), Brown, Oct-Nov, (Persistent) |
| Key ID Features: | |
| Suckering; leaves alternate, serrate except near the base with less than 40 teeth per side, most obovate, 4-10cm long x 2-4cm wide; flowers fragrant, white (or pink cv.), racemes <15cm long, late summer. Winter ID: leaf scar almost circular (notched at bud), raised bundle scars in horse-shoe shape; lateral buds red, wart-like, 0.5-2mm long; terminal bud conical 5-7mm long; capsules brown, oval, persistent. | |