'Crystalina' Summersweet Clethra Clethra alnifolia 'Crystalina' PP21,561
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- KLETH-rah al-nih-FOH-lee-ah
- Description
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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.
Tolerates wet soil. It will grow in full sun, but does best in light, dappled shade. Clethra prefers part shade and consistently moist, acidic, sandy soils. Soils should not be allowed to dry out. It tolerates clay soils and full shade and is excellent for coastal gardens due to salt-spray tolerance.
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.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Clethra
- Species:
- alnifolia
- Family:
- Clethraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- It is used for soap (flowers produce lather when crushed in water).
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Stem Cutting
- 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.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Defines Paths
- Fragrance
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Rounded
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- 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:
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Black, peppercorn-like capsules which persist throughout winter.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Showy and fragrant, lasting up to 6 weeks during the middle of summer when other flowering shrubs are not blooming due to heat! Intense spicy fragrant, white, long, floriferous racemes, formed by up to 100 individual flowers. Flowering occurs on the current season's growth. Black, peppercorn-like capsules that persist throughout winter. Good identification feature.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, simple, glossy, sharply serrated medium to deep green leaves; 1½ to 4 inches long; often woolly or tomentose below; it is late to leaf out in spring and has outstanding pale yellow to golden-brown fall color.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Salt
- Wet Soil
