About
This large deciduous shrub features appealing bark and obovate leaves that can grow up to 12 cm long, displaying red and orange hues in the fall. During late summer and autumn, it produces clusters of small, fragrant white flowers in racemes.
About the genus
Clethra consists of trees or shrubs that can be either deciduous or evergreen. They often feature notable bark and have simple leaves. The small, fragrant flowers are typically white, bell-shaped, and arranged in racemes or panicles.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full shade, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, North-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H5
Plant details
- Plant type
- Shrubs
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Spread
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 10-20 years
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden
- Native to
- E China to Japan
- Fragrance
- Flower
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in fertile humus-rich moist but well-drained acid soil, best in part or dappled shade
- Pruning
- Pruning group 2
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed or softwood cuttings
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free