Clethra acuminata Michaux. Common name: Mountain Sweet-pepperbush, Mountain White-alder. Phenology: Jul-Aug; Sep-Oct. Habitat: Moist forests, heath balds, streambanks, margins of rock outcrops at high elevations. Distribution: Endemic to the Southern and Central Appalachians, C. acuminata ranges from sw. PA south through e. WV, w. VA, e. TN, w. NC to nw. SC, n. GA, and ne. AL.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, F, FNA8, G, K4, NS, Pa, POWO, RAB, S, S13, Tn, Va, W, Sleumer (1967b). Basionym: Clethra acuminata Michx. 1803
Links to other floras: = Clethra acuminata - FNA8
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Heliophily ⓘ: 5
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Horticultural Information
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Height: 6-12 ft.
plant sale text: Mountain Sweet-pepperbush produces spicily-scented small white flowers in the summer. This species also shows beautiful gold fall color. This southeastern native shrub grows primarily in moist acid soils along streambanks in the mountains. This species has a more upright growth habit than other clethras, as well as being tolerant of more well-drained soils. It also features attractive peeling cinnamon-brown bark as it matures. Mountain Sweet-pepperbush can be grown as a shrub or a small tree, limbed up in order to accentuate its handsome bark.
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native range: eastern United States
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