Ruby Spice Summersweet Clethra

Ruby Spice Summersweet

clethra alnifolia ruby spice

‘Ruby Spice’ is a summersweet cultivar that is most noted for its fragrant rose-pink flowers that bloom in late summer. It is a densely-branched, rounded, suckering, deciduous shrub that typically grows 4-6’ tall and features narrow, cylindrical, bottlebrush-like, terminal panicles of extremely fragrant rose pink flowers that bloom on the current year’s growth for approximately 4-6 weeks in July and August. Dark green leaves turn a variable but generally attractive yellow/golden brown in fall. Flowers give way to dark brown seed capsules that may persist well into winter. Flowers are very attractive to butterflies and bees. Summersweets are somewhat unique among late summer-flowering shrubs because of their ability to bloom in shady locations.

Mature Height : 4-6 Feet

Mature Width : 3-5 Feet

Exposure : Full sun to partial shade

Hardiness Zones : 4-8