Vanilla Spice® Summersweet (Clethra)
Shrub
- Extra large flowers with amazing fragrance!
- Glossy green foliage turns bright yellow in fall.
- One of the best shrubs for shade.
- Deer resistant and easy to grow.
- Zones 4-9, sun/part sun/shade, 6′ tall x 5' wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Details
Patent: USPP 21589
Common name: Summersweet, Clethra
Zone: 4 - 9
Sun exposure: Full (6+ hrs/day) to part shade
Height x width: 3-6' tall and wide
Flower color: White
Foliage color: Glossy green
Season of Interest: Summer-fall
Bloom time: Summer
Features: Wet soils, Proven Winners, native, low flammability, heat tolerant, fragrant, fall color, deer resistant, cold tolerant
Uses: Specimen, flower gardens, backdrop, landscaping, pollinator gardens, wildlife gardens, native plant gardens
How to Grow
Light: Full sun (6+ hrs/day) to part shade (4-6 hrs sun/day) to to shade (<4 hours direct sun/day). Can grow in deeper shade but flowering and fall color will not be as intense.
Water: Moderate to wet
Space: Min. 3' apart
Fertilizing: Little fertilizer is needed.
Winterizing: No special treatment is required. A 2-3" layer of shredded bark mulch is recommended.
Maintenance: No special care is required. Trim as needed in early spring.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.