Clethra 'Hummingbird' #5

Clethra alnifolia ‘Hummingbird’

‘Hummingbird’ Summersweet is a dwarf, spreading selection of our native clethra, prized for its sweetly fragrant white flower spikes that bloom in early to mid-summer when few shrubs are in flower. The upright racemes contrast beautifully with clean green foliage and provide dependable seasonal interest.

This cultivar develops a low, rounded, slightly spreading habit, making it ideal for front-of-border plantings, foundation beds, mass plantings, and woodland edges where a compact native shrub is desired. Foliage remains attractive through the growing season and finishes with soft yellow fall color.

Summersweet prefers consistently moist, acidic soils but adapts to average garden conditions and tolerates occasional wet sites. It performs reliably in partial shade yet flowers well in full sun. The flowers are a valuable nectar source, drawing native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators during the summer bloom period.