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

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling

KLETH-rah al-nih-FOH-lee-ah

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 / Varieties:

'Crystalina'

Tags:

#bees #hummingbirds #showy flowers #deciduous #fall color #birds #fragrant flowers #wildlife plant #salt tolerant #winter interest #clay soil #coastal #wet sites #salt spray #mci #pollinator plant

Cultivars / Varieties:

'Crystalina'

Tags:

#bees #hummingbirds #showy flowers #deciduous #fall color #birds #fragrant flowers #wildlife plant #salt tolerant #winter interest #clay soil #coastal #wet sites #salt spray #mci #pollinator plant

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