Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’
$54.99
Clethra alnifolia Ruby Spice is a suckering deciduous shrub with glossy green leaves and fragrant non-fading rose-pink flower spikes in late summer.
- Description
- Additional information
Description
Clethra alnifolia Ruby Spice is a rounded, densely branched deciduous shrub with glossy dark-green, finely serrated leaves. Its multistemmed framework can sucker gradually into an informal colony, while autumn foliage turns yellow to golden brown.
Short upright spikes of richly rose-pink flowers open in late summer and can continue into early autumn. Their sweet clove-like fragrance attracts butterflies and other pollinators, and the strong pink colour holds instead of fading toward white.
Grow it in humus-rich acidic loam or sand that stays evenly moist but drains freely, in full sun or partial shade. It suits rain gardens, woodland edges, naturalized groups, and informal hedges; water during dry periods and thin the oldest stems only when renewal is needed.
Additional information
| Height | 4 ft – 6 ft |
|---|---|
| Spread | 3 ft – 5 ft |
| Flowering months | July, August, September |
| Synonyms | Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice' |
| Family | Clethraceae |
| Hazardous | unknown |
| Variegated | no |
| Color flower autumn | Pink |
| Color flower summer | Pink |
| Aspect | East, South, West, North |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Habit | Bushy, Suckering |
| Moisture | Wet or Damp Soil, Moist but Well Drained |
| Ph | Acid |
| Position | Full sun, Partial shade |
| Scent | Fragrant |
| Shape | Round |
| Suggest planting location | Woodland Garden, Shade Garden, Hedges and screening plants, Wildlife friendly gardens, Rain Garden |
| Type | Shrub |
| Use for | Hedge, Naturalizing, Pollinator-Friendly |
| Years to max height | 5 |
| Drought resistance | no |
| Soil | Loam, Sand |
| Local names | Ruby Spice summersweet, Ruby Spice sweet pepperbush |
| Blomidon Item No | MO23002475, CLEALRS0003G, 100-2689, 201967964, 202051548, 201960978, 202016451 |
| Propagation | Propagate by separating suckers, layering, or taking semi-ripe cuttings in summer. |
| Pests | Generally pest free, though spider mites may occur during dry conditions. |
| Diseases | Generally disease free, though leaf spot and powdery mildew may occasionally occur. |
| Pruning | Remove the oldest stems in winter when renewal is needed, and remove old flower heads in spring. |
| Watering instructions | Keep acidic soil evenly moist, especially while plants establish. |
| Sunlight instructions | Grow in full sun or partial shade with shelter from drying wind. |
| Common Name | Ruby Spice Summersweet |