Clethra alnifolia Sugartina® ‘Crystalina’ (Summersweet) Unity Grown

Clethra alnifolia Sugartina® 'Crystalina' is an especially showy dwarf cultivar of summersweet or sweet pepperbsuh, a coastal wetland shrub native to the eastern United States. As with most summersweet, the real draw for the Sugartina® 'Crystalina' cultivar from Proven Winners is its flowers: This Clethra's fragrant flowers bloom through the mid to late summer and are attractive to pollinators of all kinds, but especially butterflies and hummingbirds. In the fall, the ornamental season is extended even further by gorgeous, golden yellow autumn foliage, adding months of extra appeal to an already prolific shrub. What's more is that 'Crystalina' is one of the smaller varieties available on the market; with a growth habit to only 2-3' tall and 3-5' wide, Sugartina® 'Crystalina' has the perfect mounding habit for a variety of locations. 

Perfect for filling areas without adding too much height, Sugartina® 'Crystalina' works especially well for low borders and in foundation plantings, where it will create a beautiful mounded display without overgrowing even low-sitting windows. Since most Clethra alnifolia are multi-stemmed, it is important to choose a large enough planting location for this spreading, suckering selection. While juvenile suckers can be pruned away as the plant matures to provide a more organize, formal shape, this cultivar displays beautifully when planted in mass, when mixed into perennial borders, or when used in rain gardens or wetland restoration projects. Naturally found in coastal wetland areas or floodplains, Clethra alnifolia Sugartina® 'Crystalina' grows best in wetter areas with acidic, sandy soils and full sun exposure, but is not at all picky, and will tolerate fairly deep partial shade, drier soils, perpetually wet clay soils, and even sites with some salt content. 

(Photos courtesy of Proven Winners)