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| I'm thinking of incorporating some Clethra in my beds (moving out the rugosas, planting Clethra instead) so I'm interested in comments re: overall growth habit and foliage ---> if the foliage doesn't look good ALL.SEASON.LONG I'm not interested... Bed is full sun in the afternoon, shade during the evening hours. |
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| I have Clethra Ruby Spice. It is planted in an area that holds moisture well and is mostly shade. I cut it back by a foot or so in early April. These are the suggested growing conditions for the shrub. That being said, for me, it is not a heavy bloomer and the time is rather short. Foliage is good all season. Not a show stopper shrub, but attractive enough. The aroma and the way it attracts all kinds of pollinators to it are worth it. It does sucker from the roots that need to be kept in check and the top growth through the summer is rather wild and rangey so give it room to spread out at the top. The size of my now 5 year shrubs is about 3 x 5. I think next April I will cut them back by half and see what happens |
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| I planted a few Ruby Spice in an almost-bog garden, and just bought a Vanilla Spice to add. The garden is very wet most of the year, and gets about half sun, half shade (maybe a tad more shade, especially this time of year). This was an area planted to be a more natural, native garden in an area of a yard where maintenance is difficult due to standing water and muddy conditions. It has a wooded area around it, and a creek runs nearby. The shrubs are only in their second (maybe third) season, and I'm still evaluating. I love the blooms, and the scent is fabulous. I'm not thrilled with their growth habit. In this garden they are lanky and ... slanted. I can't seem to get them to stay upright. From day one, as little Bluestone babies, they've leaned. I've staked them but I haven't pruned them yet because I think I missed the opportunity (time-wise) and, because I'm terrified of pruning, didn't want to try outside that window. I plan on trying to be more organized next year, and have pruning them on my list. They do grow quite well in these conditions, however, and the plants look very healthy and have no disease or pest issues that I can see. Overall, I am happy with them but I can't comment on how they do being in full sun in the afternoon I will say I was at a friend's house earlier this summer and she had a huge swath of I'm guessing native clethras, or perhaps put in by the developer years ago, all along the edge of her wooded property, which backs up to a swamp. The scent was to die for. Just wonderful, so I am definitely a fan of them for this reason alone. Dee |
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- Posted by mad_gallica Z5 Eastern NY (My Page) on Sun, Sep 8, 13 at 15:00
| I've killed two so far, and probably won't try a third. Whatever it wants, I don't have. It's probably a soil pH issue because I can give it as much water as it wants. |
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| Uh...sounds like I better pass. This is an area where they will be ON DISPLAY. |
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| I killed five Ruby Spice Clethras. It didn't matter if they were planted on the west, south or east of the house, didn't matter how well watered they were or how much shade they got -- they were a total disaster. I can grow just about anything, but clethra alnifolia and phlox paniculata are way above my pay grade. Plus -- they're real ugly in winter. |
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- Posted by prairiemoon2 zone 6a/MA (My Page) on Sun, Sep 8, 13 at 17:30
| I'm so surprised that Clethra has not been successful across the board. It is one of my favorite shrubs and a native. It is interesting that my conditions are different than those mentioned. I added a 'Hummingbird' right under the dripline of a mature Maple and it's dry there. It has never had a brown edge on it. The Oakleaf Hydrangea next to it can't say the same. I do have challenging conditions, because my neighbors have large Silver Maples that just suck the moisture right out of the area. It does sucker but I did have room for it to do that and happy to have any shrub increase it's size near my Maple. It is fragrant and covered with bees when in bloom. And as much as I like 'Hummingbird', I really like 'Clethra Sue' even more. It is not a common variety and one I just stumbled upon and tried. It is probably twice the height of the 'Hummingbird' and has larger white flowers that dangle some. It also blooms later than 'Hummingbird' and is just starting to bloom right now. It is also planted in |
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- Posted by prairiemoon2 zone 6a/MA (My Page) on Sun, Sep 8, 13 at 18:14
| Actually, this time of day is better to get a photo so here it is. This is 'Sherry Sue' It is in front of a Viburnum 'Wentworth' which is a pretty tall shrub. You can see the 4ft fence in the photo. It probably gets about 4 hrs of morning sun and shade in the afternoon, facing East. It also is covered specifically by Bumble Bees which I'm happy about, they're my favorite. It was a little windy so sorry if it is a little blurry. |
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| Pretty! |
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| I have Clethra 'Ruby Spice' and can second that it's not such an attractive shrub --- mainly because it takes a long time for it to leaf out in the spring. I think it's one of the last of my shrubs to open. Yes, the scent is wonderful and it certainly attracts pollinators. But I had to agree with Dee and Gazania --- it does lean and its bloom time is short. Mine is growing on the north side of the house. It gets morning and then late afternoon sun. I'm sure it's leaning out towards the sun. I think this is a fine plant if you place it as PM2 did with other shrubs --- or in a wooded area where it's rangy habit is less obvious. It is loaded with fragrant blossoms, but they don't last long. Then you're left with 3-4 inches of brown stems/flower stalks. Not too attractive when out of bloom. I suppose if I trimmed it in early spring the shape would be better. I do go at it throughout the growing season because I find its branches curve and twist. Some of these get too close to the house. So I guess I give it a C+. |
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- Posted by prairiemoon2 zone 6a/MA (My Page) on Sun, Sep 8, 13 at 19:51
| Molie, you make a good point, it is more suited to a woodland setting. It's a casual shrub and not formal. It's not a show stopper like Hydrangea. It fits with what I needed exactly and I've found it a great performer and carefree. No insect or disease problems and the foliage is clean and shiny throughout the growing season. Mine was a small shrub in 2008 when I bought it and that's how much it has grown in 5 years. It does leaf out later than other shrubs too. |
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| Mollie, I had forgotten what late sleepers they were. Great point. Come springtime, I'm happy to wait for the crape myrtles to sleep in, but I was always afraid the clethras were dead, and in Kansas, if you wait until May to replace dead shrubs, your window of opportunity is closing because summer heat is just around the corner. |
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| Mollie, I had forgotten what late sleepers they were. Great point. Come springtime, I'm happy to wait for the crape myrtles to sleep in, but I was always afraid the clethras were dead, and in Kansas, if you wait until May to replace dead shrubs, your window of opportunity is closing because summer heat is just around the corner. |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Tue, Sep 10, 13 at 7:44
| today .... being a literal sort of guy.. how the heck do i know what pooped on your clethra .. tomorrow.. i might be figurative... ken ps: i am thinking your wall must be done.. and unlike the rest of the summer.. you have regained some passion for the garden .... |
Here is a link that might be useful: link
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| I grow several Clethra Ruby Spice in a wetland area, and like others find that it's a casual shrub, excellent in a wilder area, but not so much so in a more formal bed. I think that more than anything they need acid soil, and IME the source of the original selection matters to its hardiness. I had a Dirr selection (perhaps Sixteen Candles?) with a southern provenence that had serious die-back every winter, although Ruby Spice has no issues. It was a smaller size with excellent form. My Clethra RS are in full sun in a seasonally wet area (though some wet years like this one it's all season) and don't have issues with leaning. They also have nice later fall color, a clear yellow. |
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