Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’ is most noted for its fragrant rose-pink flowers that bloom in late summer - commonly called summersweet, is a deciduous shrub that is native to swampy woodlands, wet marshes, stream banks and seashores, often in sandy soils, along the coast. It is a rounded, suckering, densely-branched, deciduous shrub that typically grows to 3-6’ tall and is noted for producing a mid to late summer bloom of sweetly fragrant pink flowers which appear in narrow, upright panicles. Flowers give way to dark brown seed capsules. Glossy dark green leaves turn attractive shades of yellow to golden brown in fall. Flowers are very attractive to butterflies and bees Type: Deciduous shrub Native Zone: 4 to 8 Height: 4-6 feet Spread: 3.00 to 5.00 feet Bloom Time: July to August Bloom Description: Rose pink Sun: Full sun to part shade Water: Medium to wet Maintenance: Low Suggested Use: Hedge, Naturalize, Rain Garden Flower: Showy, Fragrant Leaf: Good Fall Attracts: Butterflies Tolerate: Heavy Shade, Erosion, Clay Soil, Wet Soil
