Clethra tomentosa Lamarck. Common name: Downy Sweet-pepperbush, Downy White-alder. Habitat: Pocosins, swamps, streambanks. Distribution: E. SC south to FL, and west to e. LA (east of the Mississippi River).
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Taxonomy Comments: If recognized at varietal rank, the correct name is var. pubescens Aiton, which predates var. tomentosa (Lamarck) Michaux (Sleumer 1967b, Wilbur 1970b).
Synonymy ⓘ: = FNA8, NS, POWO, S, S13; = Clethra alnifolia L. var. pubescens Aiton — K4, Sleumer (1967b); = Clethra alnifolia L. var. tomentosa (Lam.) Michx. — RAB, illegitimate; < Clethra alnifolia L. — Fl5, GW2, WH3. Basionym: Clethra tomentosa Lam. 1786
Links to other floras: = Clethra tomentosa - FNA8
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Great Plains: FACW (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Northcentral & Northeast: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
Heliophily ⓘ: 7
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© Alvin Diamond, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Alvin Diamond source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
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© Emily Oglesby | Original Image ⭷
© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Alvin Diamond, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Alvin Diamond source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
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© Emily Oglesby | Original Image ⭷
© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
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Height: 3-6 ft.
plant sale text: Downy sweet-pepperbush blooms profusely in late summer. The spikes of white flowers will grow up to 16 inches and produce an intoxicating fragrance that entices people as well as pollinators. Many butterflies are attracted to the nectar of its flowers as well as 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. It will form colonies in moist acidic soil. Clethra tometosa is very heat tolerant. The Clethra genus supports up to 9 lepidoptera species.
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native range: FL, GA, LA, MS, NC & SC
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