Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia 'SMR SPARKLER')
We fell in love with this plant long before we even saw it! The scent is intoxicating and you will smell it long before you see it. With sweetly scented, feathery racemes that resemble a certain genius' hair, this easy-care shrub is sure to be the highlight of your sunny garden. 'Interesting' doesn't even begin to do it justice - this summersweet is utterly otherworldly! It's sure to spark some fun conversations as your neighbors try to make heads or tails of this intensely fragrant shrub. The long, loose, curled and pointed bloom wands reach up to a foot long, point in all different directions, and delight every butterfly in the neighborhood.Its foliage is green for most of the year but then takes on a golden brown hue in the fall. Summer Sparkler™ flourishes in full sunlight and is compact enough to fit just about anywhere. Give it a place of honor in your wilderness garden and it will never fail to impress.
Zone: 4 to 8
Height: 3.00 to 4.00 feet
Spread: 3.00 to 4.00 feet
Bloom Time: July to August
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to well drained
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Hedge, Naturalize, Rain Garden
Flower: Showy, Fragrant
Leaf: Good Fall
Attracts: Butterflies, hummingbirds
Tolerate: Erosion, Clay Soil, Wet Soil