Ruby Spice Summersweet
Did you know?
Ruby Spice Summersweet shrubs (Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice') were initially discovered in 1992 at Broken Arrow Nursery as a mutation of the cultivar Clethra alnifolia 'Pink Spires', and have since gained popularity for their sweet fragrance and ability to attract pollinators.
Size
Up to 8 feet tall
Flowers, Fruit, Foliage
Tiny, pink, fragrant flowers grow in upright racemes and bloom from mid to late summer. The fruit are dry, dark brown, rounded seed capsules. Lustrous, dark green, serrated leaves fade to shades of yellow and brown in autumn months.
Pests & Diseases
None serious
Landscape Use
Excellent in natural areas, borders, and mass plantings
Care Practices
Plant in moist, acidic soil in an area with any sun-shade combo. These shrubs are moderately cold hardy and can tolerate high temperatures, wet conditions, and salinity, but they do not tolerate drought. Regularly prune suckers.
Native Range
Eastern United States from Maine to Florida