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Similar plants:
Clethra alnifolia Clethra alnifolia
Cyrilla racemiflora Cyrilla racemiflora
Tilia americana Tilia americana

'Crystalina' Summersweet Clethra Clethra alnifolia 'Crystalina' PP21,561

Other Common Name(s):

Description

Clethra alnifolia is the only species of Clethra native to North America.  Grows naturally in poorly drained, moist soils, getting larger and producing more suckers if provided plenty of water (once established, it can thrive in drier conditions).   Summersweets are somewhat unique among flowering shrubs because of their ability to bloom in shady locations in late summer when few other shrubs are in bloom.  

'Crystalina', commonly sold under the trade name of SUGARTINA, is a diminutive and refined summersweet with showy, fragrant flowers.  Reining in the height of Summersweet greatly expands the potential of this native shrub in modern landscapes. Selected from a population of seedlings derived from an open pollinated 'Ruby Spice', 'Crystalina' provides a handsome improvement with a compact, rounded form. Flowers are particularly showy with long, floriferous racemes. It roots readily from softwood cuttings.

Season of interest:

      Bloom: Summer    Leaf: Fall/leaf color  Twig/Bark: Winter

 

Insects, Diseases and Other Problems: Damage caused by spider mites can be severe in hot, dry conditions.

 

Cultivars:
  • 'Crystalina'
Tags:
#bees#hummingbirds#showy flowers#deciduous#fall color#birds#pollinators#fragrant flowers#wildlife plant#salt tolerant#winter interest#clay soil#coastal#wet sites#salt spray#mci
Clethra alnifolia 'Crystalina'
Form
Clethra alnifolia 'Crystalina'
Cultivars:
  • 'Crystalina'
Tags:
#bees#hummingbirds#showy flowers#deciduous#fall color#birds#pollinators#fragrant flowers#wildlife plant#salt tolerant#winter interest#clay soil#coastal#wet sites#salt spray#mci
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Clethra
    Species:
    alnifolia
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    It is used for soap (flowers produce lather when crushed in water).
    Wildlife Value:
    Clethra is an excellent plant in pollinator gardens. The fragrant, white flowers and nectar are very attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Many birds and mammals eat the fruit and aid in seed dispersal. Deer will eat it only when other forage vegetation is limited.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Shrub
    Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Hairs Present:
    No
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Theme:
    Pollinator Garden
    Winter Garden
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Salt
    Wet Soil