Minus icon Plant Type Shrubs
Minus icon Height Medium 2-3'
Minus icon Spacing Plant 4' apart
Minus icon Bloom Time Mid-Summer to Late Summer
Minus icon Sun / Shade Full Sun to Mostly Shady
Minus icon Growing Zones 4-9
Minus icon Soil Type Normal, Clay, Sandy, Acidic
Minus icon Water Needs Medium
Minus icon Sold In Plantable Pots (3.5x3.5x4")
These varieties have been proven in trials around the world to be vigorous and easy to grow. Best of all, Proven Winners are known to be absolutely covered with vibrant, long-blooming flowers.
Clethra alnifolia 'Sugartina® Crystalina' (PP21,561)
Clethra are versatile, upright, deciduous shrubs known for fragrant late-summer blooms and foliage that turns from deep green to yellow in fall. Native along the Atlantic coast and south to Texas, they naturally grow in wet woodlands, marshes, and riverbanks. Featuring dense branches suitable for hedges or privacy screens, and after blooming, produces dark brown seed capsules resembling peppercorns. Remarkably adaptable, tolerating both high heat and winter cold, as well as windy and salty conditions in urban or coastal areas. Clethra is late to wake and will look bare until the leaves appear at the end of spring.
Plant Clethra in full sun to part shade, ideally with morning sun and afternoon shade. It thrives in moist, acidic, sandy soils but adapts to clay soil when amended with organic material. Regular watering is essential to prevent soil from drying out, and the plant can even tolerate standing water. Fertilize in early spring with a slow-release formula for trees and shrubs. While pruning isn't necessary, it can be done in late winter or spring to maintain shape if desired. Older specimens can be freshened by removing some of the oldest wood as flowering is generally better on younger stems. Remove root suckers unless a naturalized look is desired. Deadheading is not needed unless you desire a more groomed appearance.
Our plants are grown in 3.5x3.5x4” plantable pots. Made from 100% biodegradable coconut husk fibers (coir), these pots have tremendous advantages over plastic pots. With better air exchange, this "breathable" pot fosters robust root growth and reduces transplant shock since you can plant the pots directly in the ground. The pot naturally becomes part of the soil on its own over time—no composting required—and since they're made from a renewable resource that requires very little energy, they're earth-friendly too!
We offer a 100% guarantee for all our perennials to reach you in good condition and to grow. If you're not satisfied, we'll reship or refund immediately. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have questions or concerns—we share your passion for gardening and want your new plants to thrive in your border!
We use custom, earth-friendly packaging to make sure your order arrives in great condition, and we ship based on the best planting time for your growing zone (see the approximate dates below), unless otherwise indicated at checkout. If you wish, you can indicate a specific ship date during checkout.
