Description
Clethra Alnifolia, also called Sweet pepperbush, is an ornamental shrub native to the eastern United States and Asia, which thrives in humid, shady areas. It is distinguished by its generous, fragrant and honey-producing summer flowering, as well as its deciduous foliage with golden colours in autumn.
Clethra Alnifolia forms a bushy and dense bush, 2 to 2.50 m high and identical in width. Its leaves are simple, alternate, serrated, 4 to 10 cm long, tender green in spring and summer, then golden yellow in fall. From July to October, it produces flower spikes 5 to 15 cm long, composed of small white flowers, bell-shaped, downy and very fragrant. The flowers attract bees and butterflies, and are followed by brownish dried fruits.
Sweet pepperbush is a hardy shrub, which resists up to -25°C. It appreciates fresh, rich and acidic soils, in which it develops more freely. It also tolerates cultivation in pure heather soil. It prefers a partial shade or sunny exposure. It tolerates air pollution and sea salt well.
Clethra Alnifolia is planted in spring or autumn, by mixing heather soil or peat with the original soil. It is necessary to water regularly to keep the substrate moist, especially the first year. Mulching with bark or dead leaves is recommended to maintain the freshness and acidity of the soil. Pruning is not essential, but you can cut back part of the branches by half and remove the oldest ones in winter or at the beginning of spring, to encourage flowering on the current wood.
Sweet pepperbush is an ideal shrub for heather beds, undergrowth borders or pond banks. It can also be grown in a pot on a shaded terrace or balcony. It brings a natural and wild touch to the garden, with its irregular habit and late flowering. It goes well with other acid-loving shrubs such as azaleas, rhododendrons or camellias.
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