Professional Growing Information 
I just LOVE the fragrance of this shrub! I wish I had room to plant a bunch of them but I only have two now. Bumble bees love this plant too, and it gets frequent visits from Eastern Tiger Swallowtails. I’ve seen a couple young hummingbirds sample them but it’s definitely not a favorite of theirs. It also has clean foliage that just looks nice all season. I don’t trim off the spent blooms because I like the look of the seed heads in the fall and winter. For a very short time, when most of the blooms are turning brown I don’t love the look, but that is a very short period of time. Easy care shrub!
Sugartina® 'Crystalina' Summersweet Clethra alnifolia
Flower Season
- Summer
- Fall
Mature Size
Height: 2'6" - 3'
Spread: 2'4" - 3'
Height: 76cm - 91cm
Spread: 71cm - 91cm
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Details
30 - 36 Inches36 - 48 Inches28 - 36 Inches76cm - 91cm91cm - 1.2m71cm - 91cmFeatures
Fragrant white flowers in mid-summer. Yellow fall color. Native. Attracts butterflies. Dwarf.
Fragrant FlowerFall InterestAttracts:ButterfliesResists:DeerNative to North AmericaSmall or MiniatureCharacteristics
Plant Type:ShrubShrub Type:DeciduousHeight Category:TallGarden Height:30 - 36 Inches 76cm - 91cmSpacing:36 - 48 Inches 91cm - 1.2mSpread:28 - 36 Inches 71cm - 91cmFlower Colors:WhiteFlower Shade:WhiteFoliage Colors:GreenFoliage Shade:Dark GreenHabit:MoundedContainer Role:ThrillerPlant Needs
Light Requirement:Part Shade to ShadeLight Requirement:Part Sun to SunLight Requirement:SunThe optimum amount of sun or shade each plant needs to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours).
Maintenance Category:EasyBlooms On:New WoodBloom Time:Mid SummerHardiness Zones:4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9bWater Category:AverageUses:LandscapeUses Notes:Excellent for mixed borders or woodland gardens. Can also be used in wildlife gardens. Its small size makes it a good fit for narrow beds or smaller gardens. Also good as a foundation plant.
Maintenance Notes:Little care is needed for this plant. It may be pruned to shape in late winter/early spring. It holds its tight, dense shape so heavy pruning is rarely needed. If desired, apply a granular fertilizer formulated for woody plants in early spring. Tolerates damp soils.
Add some fragrance to your late summer garden!
This dwarf summersweet has very fragrant pure white flowers that attract butterflies in mid-summer. It has dark glossy foliage and holds its tight dense shape without pruning. The dark green foliage turns yellow in fall. An excellent native plant for the home landscape.
Sugartina® 'Crystalina' Clethra alnifolia USPP 21,561, Can 4,160 -
12 Reviews
5741312211Browse reviews from people who have grown this plant.-
Heather, Ohio, United States, 3 days ago
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I had high hopes for this plant, but they were in the ground for just 1 night before the deer found them and decimated all 6 of them. They are now surrounded by an electric fence...we'll see what happens next year.
Jeanne Murphy, Tennessee, United States, 1 year ago -
I bought Vanilla Spice along with Sugartina Crystalina variety - both were labelled as fragrant. Well, none of them have any fragrance. On top of it these are highly invasive. I have the suckers popping everywhere on my flower beds. they have thick root system, but pulling them is ok because they seem to be spreading not too deep. However, I am not a fan of this, because while the flowers are ok, there is no fragrance and invasive. I will have to remove from the ground and put them in a concrete container.
AG, North Carolina, United States, 1 year ago -
I planted three of these two years ago in a small clump where they get about 3 hours of direct mid-day sun. They bloomed for 5 weeks both summers. I've been especially impressed with the fall foliage -- a pleasant but not especially notable pale brownish/yellow with hints of pale green, but when planted beside a big-leaf rhododendron (English Roseum, in my case), the clethra seems to glow. I will definitely be planting more next year elsewhere in my garden.
Rod Cater, New Brunswick, Canada, 2 years ago -
I'm sorry to say I am disappointed with this shrub. I planted it last year. This year it did bloom mid-August. The blooms only lasted 2 or 3 days and then browned. Also I could not detect a scent. I was looking forward to a fragrant shrub.
Ksenia Turula, Illinois, United States, 2 years ago -
I planted this clethra spring of 2018, quart-sized. It grew nearly triple its size but did not bloom that summer. This year, it has been a strong grower and is blooming with many beautiful fragrant long-lasting blooms. Very pleased!!!
Marcia, Missouri, United States, 5 years ago -
Was delivered healthy and packaged very well. Out of all the shrubs I planted this one has the most new growth in the shortest time. I have only had it for a month or so but it is thriving in North Carolina.
Trisha, 7 years ago -
Wondering how long before new growth, (leaves) begin on previous years plant?
Robin Brening, 11 years ago -
This bush was given to me as a dead stick. It has been transplanted twice and is beautiful. Smells great and the deer never touch it.
Deborah Hartline, 13 years ago
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