Mountain Sweet-pepperbush Clethra acuminata
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- KLETH-rah ah-kew-min-AY-tah
- Description
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Mountain pepperbush is a small, deciduous tree or shrub that is native to eastern North America and is found in the mountains of NC. It can be grown as a tree up to 20 feet or pruned to be more shrub-like if desired. Keep in mind when pruning that flowers will appear on new growth. The rich green foliage, horizontal branching habit, and prolific blooms make it a great specimen for smaller yards. As the tree ages, the outer bark exfoliates to reveal a cinnamon color. In the summer, small, white bell flowers appear on drooping racemes that provide nectar to pollinators. The fall color is yellow.
In its native habitat, it grows in moist, well-drained, humus-rich, acidic rocky soil but will adapt to drier sites. It grows in sun to dappled shade but blooming in best in partial sun.
It supports pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds through its nectar rich flowers.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
Generally trouble-free, but fungal dieback and root rot sometimes affect plants
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Hummingbird'
- 'Ruby Spice'
- 'Hummingbird'
- 'Hummingbird', 'Ruby Spice'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Hummingbird'
- 'Ruby Spice'
- 'Hummingbird'
- 'Hummingbird', 'Ruby Spice'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Clethra
- Species:
- acuminata
- Family:
- Clethraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern United States, NC
- Distribution:
- NC, SC, GA, AL, TN, KY, VI, WV, PA
- Wildlife Value:
- Hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies are attracted to the nectar of the blooms. Its seeds are eaten by birds.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- moderately resistant to deer damage
- Dimensions:
- Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Oval
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Peppercorn-shaped seed capsules in racemes. Displays from September to October
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 3-8 inch drooping racemes of white, bell-shaped flowers with extruded stamens are fragrant and open from the base to the tip. Blooms June- Aug.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 3-6 inch long medium to dark green, alternate, and simple leaves. The base is narrowly cuneate to rounded and the apex is acuminate (pointed). Undersides are pubescent. The fall color is yellow-gold.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Light Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Peeling
- Bark Description:
- Its bark may appear mottled as outer portions peel away to reveal a cinnamon color.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small Tree
- Understory Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
