Deciduous Shrub – Summersweet Pepperbush ‘Hummingbird’

Summersweet Pepperbush ‘hummingbird’

Botanical name: clethra alnifolia ‘hummingbird’

Beginner friendly?: yes

Average size at maturity: 2-4 ft in height with a spread of 3-5 ft 

Bloom time: summer

Hardy zone: zones 3-9 

Flower color: white 

Foliage color: green 

Growth rate: grows 1ft per year 

Pruning instructions: prune in the late winter/early spring, right before the plant comes out of dormancy 

Propagation methods: propagate with cuttings 

Landscape use: rain garden, shade garden, hedge, erosion control 

Special features: fragrant blooms, attracts pollinators 

Light needs: no more than 4 hours of sun per day 

Watering instructions: keep soil consistently moist, but not soggy. The top layer of soil should never fully dry out.

Fertilizing instructions :  use a balanced tree and shrub fertilizer once a year in the early spring before the plant emerges from dormancy

Best time to plant: spring or fall 

Best type of soil: adaptable soil as long as water needs are being met 

Companion plants: swamp lily, turtlehead, ferns, sedges 

Toxicity level: non-toxic for humans or pets 

Invasive species: no