Clethra alnifolia 'Compacta'
Compact Summersweet Clethra

Family:

Clethraceae (Clethra Family) 5

Genus:

Clethra (Summersweet Clethra Clethra, Summersweet) 5

Plant Type:

Shrub 468

Growth Forms:

Bushy 187

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 4 517

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 838

Flower Notes:

White (Very fragrant, upright, white 2-6" long by 0.75" wide bottle brush-like flower racemes in summer; attractive to bees and butterflies)

Foliage Notes:

Green (Glossy, dark green summer foliage); Yellow (Attractive, yellow to orange foliage lasting for 3-4 weeks in the fall)

Fruit Notes:

Brown (Fruit capsules persist but with quite minor interest)

Ultimate Height:

2-4 feet

Ultimate Spread:

2-4 feet

Light Requirements:

Soil Notes:

Best in acidic, fairly moist soil, even tolerating wet soil

Range:

Cultivated origin

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Leaves are 1.5-4" long, 0.75-2" wide, alternate, simple, oblong, serrated near tip, and entire near margin. Distinct, dry, 3-valved fruiting panicles persist.

Special Characteristics:

Flowering Characteristics 355

Fragrant Flowers 188

Wet Soil Tolerant 109

Additional Information

Only growing to 2-4' high and wide, Clethra alnifolia 'Compacta' is denser and more compact than the straight species. This plant can suffer in full sun and/or dry soils, but can bloom well in shade.