Clethra alnifolia
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| Clethra alnifolia L. |
Clethra alnifolia (Sweet Pepperbush or Summersweet), is a flowering plant in the genus Clethra, native to eastern North America from southern Nova Scotia and Maine south to northern Florida, and west to eastern Texas as well as California.
It is a deciduous shrub growing to 2-4 m tall. The leaves are obovate to oblong, 4-10 cm long and 2-4 cm broad, with a serrated margin; they are green turning yellow-golden during the autumn. The flowers are white or very pale pink, 5-10 mm diameter, and have a sweet, pungent fragrance; they are produced in racemes up to 15 cm long and 2 cm broad from July until September.
It grows in wet forests, pine flatwoods, wetlands, bogs and can be seen alongside woodland streams. The Nova Scotia population is small and endangered.
[edit] Uses
Sweet Pepperbush is typically used as a shrub for natural gardens, or is placed alongside a stream or pond in order to delay erosion. Several cultivars have been selected for garden use, including 'Ruby Spice' with strongly pink colored flowers, and 'September Beauty' which flowers in September.
