Clethra alnifolia

Clethra alnifolia, the coastal sweetpepperbush or summersweet, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Clethra of the family Clethraceae, native to eastern North America from southern Nova Scotia and Maine south to northern Florida, and west to eastern Texas.

Clethra alnifolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Clethraceae
Genus: Clethra
Species:
C. alnifolia
Binomial name
Clethra alnifolia
Synonyms[1]
  • Clethra angustifolia Raf. nom. illeg.
  • Clethra bracteata Raf.
  • Clethra dentata Aiton
  • Clethra incana Pers. nom. illeg.
  • Clethra paniculata Aiton
  • Clethra pubescens Willd.
  • Clethra pumila Raf.
  • Clethra tomentosa Lam.

Description

It is a deciduous shrub growing to 1.5–3 m (4 ft 11 in–9 ft 10 in) 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 in diameter, and have a sweet, somewhat cloying fragrance, the flowers attractive to bumblebees; they are produced in racemes up to 15 cm long and 2 cm broad in late summer, depending on the cultivar. The "pepper" part of the common name derives from the mature fruits, capsules which have a vague resemblance to peppercorns, however with no element of spiciness.

Habitat

It grows in wet forests, pine flatwoods, wetlands, bogs and can be seen alongside woodland streams. It prefers a neutral to acidic soil. The Nova Scotia population is small and endangered.

Etymology

The Latin specific epithet alnifolia means "with leaves like alder (Alnus)".[2] This gave rise to another common name, common white alder,[3] though the two plants are not closely related.

'Ruby Spice' flowers

Cultivation

C. alnifolia is typically used as a shrub for natural gardens, or is placed alongside a stream or pond to delay erosion. It does not leaf out until very late in the season, limiting its landscaping use. Several cultivars have been selected for garden use, including 'September Beauty'. Both 'Ruby Spice',[3] with strongly pink flowers, and the dwarf 'Hummingbird'[4] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (confirmed 2017).[5]

References
  1. "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  2. Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 184533731X.
  3. "RHS Plantfinder - Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice'". Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  4. "RHS Plantfinder - Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird'". Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  5. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 16. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
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