Clethra Ruby Spice (alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’) is a densely branched deciduous shrub native to the South. Clethra Ruby Spice features glossy dark green leaves that turn attractive shades of yellow to golden brown in fall. Clethra Ruby Spiceproduces sweetly fragrant rosy-pink flower spikes in late summer, followed by brown seedpods that persist into winter. This adaptable shrub prefers part sun and acidic, moist, well-drained soil. Clethra Ruby Spice is an excellent choice for pollinator gardens, mixed borders, or foundation plantings where late-season fragrance is desired. Type: Shrub Origins: Eastern N. America Coasts; GA Native Height: 4’ - 6’ Spread: 3’ - 5' Spacing: 4’ USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 - 8 Culture: Full Sun, Part Sun Bloom Color: Pink Season of Interest: Summer, Fall MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Low Maintenance. Do not let soils dry out. Promptly remove suckers unless naturalization is desired. Spider mites may be a concern in drier conditions. LANDSCAPE USES: Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Woodland Gardens, Native Gardens, Hedges, and Containers. COMPANION PLANTS: Aster, Weigela, Coneflower IMAGE: Photoset by F. D. Richards, (1) Summersweet 'Ruby Spice', (2) Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice', 2016 , (3) Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice' (Summersweet) Photo by F.D.Richards, SE Michigan, 8/2020, (4) Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice' 2014 *As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown
