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Clethra alnifolia Linnaeus. Common name: Coastal Sweet-pepperbush, Coastal White-alder. Phenology: Jun-Aug; Sep-Oct. Habitat: Pocosins, blackwater swamp forests, nonriverine swamp forests. Distribution: Primarily a southeastern Coastal Plain species, C. alnifolia ranges from NS and ME south to FL, west to TX; disjunct in sc. TN (Coffee County) (Chester, Wofford, & Kral 1997).

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy : = Can, FNA8, NE, NS, NY, POWO, S, S13, Tn, Tx, Va; = Clethra alnifolia L. var. alnifolia — K4, RAB, Sleumer (1967b); < Clethra alnifolia L. — C, F, G, GW2, Pa, Tat, WH3; Clethra alnifolia L. Basionym: Clethra alnifolia L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Clethra alnifolia - FNA8

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
  • Great Plains: FACW (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily : 6

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image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG
image of plant© Janet Wright, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Janet Wright source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Nate Hartley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Nate Hartley source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Michael John Oldham, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Michael John Oldham source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Carol Ann McCormick | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Rob Gardner | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© margaretcurtin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Michael John Oldham, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Michael John Oldham source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Michelle W., some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michelle W. source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Nate Hartley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Nate Hartley source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© margaretcurtin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Clethra alnifolia, commonly called summersweet, is a rounded, suckering, densely-branched, deciduous shrub that is native to swampy woodlands, wet marshes and stream banks along the East Coast. In late summer this plant develops upright panicles of sweetly fragrant flowers which ripen to into brown seed capsules in the autumn and may persist into winter. The green leaves turn a pleasant yellow to golden-brown in the fall.

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Height: 3-5 ft.

plant sale text: Coastal sweet-pepperbush blooms profusely in late summer. Its spikes of white flowers produce an intoxicating fragrance that entices people as well as pollinators. Many butterflies are attracted to the nectar of its flowers as are hummingbirds. This adaptable species is easily grown anywhere in sun to light shade, as long as it is planted in soil that retains some moisture. Over time, a single plant will spread to form a clump up to 12 ft wide. This genus supports up to 9 lepidoptera species.

bloom table text: Coastal Sweet-pepperbush can be found along the east coast from Maine to Florida, growing to be 10 feet tall in good soil conditions. A wonderful landscape plant for a shrub border or at the edge of a pond or stream, it grows well in sun or shade and prefers moist, acidic soil. Flowering for 4-6 weeks in July and August, it produces upright white racemes that are very attractive to bees. The fruits are small dry capsules and are often present during much of the year. Coastal Sweet-pepperbush is also noted for its beautiful fall color.

description: Clethra alnifolia, commonly called summersweet, is a rounded, suckering, densely-branched, deciduous shrub that is native to swampy woodlands, wet marshes and stream banks along the East Coast. In late summer this plant develops upright panicles of sweetly fragrant flowers which ripen to into brown seed capsules in the autumn and may persist into winter. The green leaves turn a pleasant yellow to golden-brown in the fall.

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germination code: 2

native range: eastern United States



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