Where should I plant Clethra?

Where should I plant Clethra?

Plant near a patio or other outdoor living spaces to enjoy the fragrant summer flowers.

1. Clethra are easily grown in a wide range of soils types, including clay soils. They prefer a consistently moist to wet acidic soil.
2. Clethra grow best in an acid to neutral soil ranging from around 5.0 to 7.0 on the pH scale.

When should I plant Clethra?

Clethra alnifolia is easy to propagate from stem cuttings in early summer or from seed planted in fall or spring. Softwood stem cuttings are best taken in early summer for the greatest success in rooting.

Does Clethra alnifolia grow in shade?

Don’t let heavy shade or damp and clay soil stop you from gardening. Consider adding a Summersweet, Clethra alnifolia, to your landscape. It grows best in full sun to part shade and moist to wet soil.

Can Clethra take full sun?

Easily grown in average, medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. Prefers part shade and consistently moist, acidic, sandy soils. Soils should not be allowed to dry out. Tolerates clay soils.

Why is my Clethra not blooming?

It looks as if my clethra bush is not going to bloom for the third year in a row. In other words, it will tolerate a slightly drier soil if it is in more shade, but then it blooms less. For the record, any pruning should be done in very early spring.

What does Clethra smell like?

Summersweet Clethra This deciduous shrub produces spike-shaped flowers in late summer. Fitting of its name, Summersweet Clethra’s blooms produce a sweet smell that is reminiscent of honeysuckle. It will grow well in almost any exposure although cold and snowy winters can be tough.

Is Clethra alnifolia invasive?

It has fragrant flowers in July and August loved by pollinators. This shrub is beautiful when it is blooming, and it keeps a compact form if pruned every fall after blooming. But it is very invasive.

Will Summersweet grow in shade?

Tolerates full shade. The species is native to the eastern U.S. CareProvide full sun to part shade and fertile, preferably acidic, medium to wet soil. Summersweet will tolerate clay soil and full shade.

How tall does Clethra get?

This cultivar can grow six–to–eight feet tall. One of the largest cultivars, this shrub can be used to fill a large space. ‘Ruby Spice’ – A sport of ‘Pink Spires,’ this cultivar has beautiful, deep rosy pink buds that open up to paler rose-pink blossoms in four-inch long racemes.

Should I deadhead Clethra?

Deadhead dead and fading clethra flowers. When spent flowers are left on the shrub, it will direct its energy to producing seed. If you deadhead or remove these flowers, that energy will be redirected to bloom production. The oldest, lowest branches on a clethra shrub should be cut back to ground level.