Mountain Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra acuminata)

With its tiered branching habit, rich green foliage and abundant blooms, Mountain Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra acuminata) is an ideal plant for small landscapes. This multi-stemmed shrub is suitable as an understory plant in rich, acid woodlands. Mountain Sweet Pepperbush will grow 6-12’ tall and with age its outer bark exfoliates to reveal a cinnamon-colored inner bark. The small white flowers bloom from mid-July to August, are borne on 3-8” long spires, and open from the base to the tip. Mountain Sweet Pepperbush prefers a moist, well drained, humus-rich, acidic soil but will adapt to drier sites. It is tolerant of shady conditions though it flowers best with more sun. Combine this species with a groundcover of foamflower, drooping leucothoe, christmas fern, or cinnamon fern. 

Fall Color; Attracts: 🐛 🐝
Light: full sun to part shade
Soil: medium to wet