The 'Hummingbird' cultivar of Clethra alnifolia, also called summersweet or sweet pepperbush, is dwarf cultivar among Clethra varieties, growing to only three to four tall and wide. As for most summersweet, the real draw is the flowers, and 'Hummingbird' produces a profusion of fragrant white flower spikes that are attractive to pollinators of all kinds, but especially butterflies and hummingbirds.
With this cultivar's compact growth a habit, this sweet pepperbush makes for a great addition to any small garden and displays beautifully when planted in mass, when mixed into perennial borders, or when used in small beds or rain gardens. Naturally found in coastal wetland areas or floodplains, Clethra alnifolia grows best in wetter areas with acidic, sandy soils, but is not at all picky, and will tolerate perpetually wet clay soils, and even those with some salt content.