I just LOVE the fragrance of this shrub! I wish I had room to plant a bunch of them but I only have two now. Bumble bees love this plant too, and it gets frequent visits from Eastern Tiger Swallowtails. I’ve seen a couple young hummingbirds sample them but it’s definitely not a favorite of theirs. It also has clean foliage that just looks nice all season. I don’t trim off the spent blooms because I like the look of the seed heads in the fall and winter. For a very short time, when most of the blooms are turning brown I don’t love the look, but that is a very short period of time. Easy care shrub!
Sugartina® 'Crystalina' Summersweet Clethra alnifolia
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30 - 36 Inches36 - 48 Inches28 - 36 Inches76cm - 91cm91cm - 1.2m71cm - 91cm
Features
Fragrant white flowers in mid-summer. Yellow fall color. Native. Attracts butterflies. Dwarf.
Fragrant FlowerFall InterestAttracts:ButterfliesResists:DeerNative to North AmericaSmall or MiniatureCharacteristics
Plant Type:ShrubShrub Type:DeciduousHeight Category:TallGarden Height:30 - 36 Inches 76cm - 91cmSpacing:36 - 48 Inches 91cm - 1.2mSpread:28 - 36 Inches 71cm - 91cmFlower Colors:WhiteFlower Shade:WhiteFoliage Colors:GreenFoliage Shade:Dark GreenHabit:MoundedContainer Role:ThrillerAdd some fragrance to your late summer garden!
This dwarf summersweet has very fragrant pure white flowers that attract butterflies in mid-summer. It has dark glossy foliage and holds its tight dense shape without pruning. The dark green foliage turns yellow in fall. An excellent native plant for the home landscape.
Sugartina® 'Crystalina' Clethra alnifolia USPP 21,561, Can 4,160 -
5741312211Browse reviews from people who have grown this plant.
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Heather, Ohio, United States, 1 year ago
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I had high hopes for this plant, but they were in the ground for just 1 night before the deer found them and decimated all 6 of them. They are now surrounded by an electric fence...we'll see what happens next year.
Jeanne Murphy, Tennessee, United States, 3 years ago -
I bought Vanilla Spice along with Sugartina Crystalina variety - both were labelled as fragrant. Well, none of them have any fragrance. On top of it these are highly invasive. I have the suckers popping everywhere on my flower beds. they have thick root system, but pulling them is ok because they seem to be spreading not too deep. However, I am not a fan of this, because while the flowers are ok, there is no fragrance and invasive. I will have to remove from the ground and put them in a concrete container.
AG, North Carolina, United States, 3 years ago -
I planted three of these two years ago in a small clump where they get about 3 hours of direct mid-day sun. They bloomed for 5 weeks both summers. I've been especially impressed with the fall foliage -- a pleasant but not especially notable pale brownish/yellow with hints of pale green, but when planted beside a big-leaf rhododendron (English Roseum, in my case), the clethra seems to glow. I will definitely be planting more next year elsewhere in my garden.
Rod Cater, New Brunswick, Canada, 3 years ago -
I'm sorry to say I am disappointed with this shrub. I planted it last year. This year it did bloom mid-August. The blooms only lasted 2 or 3 days and then browned. Also I could not detect a scent. I was looking forward to a fragrant shrub.
Ksenia Turula, Illinois, United States, 3 years ago -
I planted this clethra spring of 2018, quart-sized. It grew nearly triple its size but did not bloom that summer. This year, it has been a strong grower and is blooming with many beautiful fragrant long-lasting blooms. Very pleased!!!
Marcia, Missouri, United States, 7 years ago -
Was delivered healthy and packaged very well. Out of all the shrubs I planted this one has the most new growth in the shortest time. I have only had it for a month or so but it is thriving in North Carolina.
Trisha, 8 years ago -
Wondering how long before new growth, (leaves) begin on previous years plant?
Robin Brening, 13 years ago -
This bush was given to me as a dead stick. It has been transplanted twice and is beautiful. Smells great and the deer never touch it.
Deborah Hartline, 14 years ago
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