Bring compact beauty, fragrance, and pollinator appeal to your garden with Clethra alnifolia ‘Hummingbird’, commonly known as Hummingbird Summersweet. This charming native shrub features dense, compact growth and produces abundant, fragrant white flower spikes in midsummer, filling your garden with a delightful, sweet aroma. Its glossy green foliage turns golden yellow in the fall, adding seasonal interest to your landscape. Perfect for small spaces, borders, or pollinator gardens, Hummingbird Summersweet thrives in moist soils, tolerates partial shade, and attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Why Choose Hummingbird Summersweet?

• Fragrant Blooms: Sweetly scented white flower spikes add elegance and attract pollinators.
• Compact Growth: Dense, rounded habit is perfect for small spaces, borders, or foundation plantings.
• Seasonal Interest: Bright green foliage turns golden yellow in fall for multi-season beauty.
• Moisture-Loving: Thrives in wet soils, making it ideal for rain gardens or areas with poor drainage.

Cultivation Tips

• Sunlight Needs: Prefers full sun to partial shade; blooms best with at least 4-6 hours of sunlight daily.
• Soil Preferences: Grows well in moist, acidic, well-drained soils but tolerates sandy or clay soils.
• Watering Requirements: Keep soil consistently moist, especially during establishment or dry periods.
• Spacing: Plant 3-4 feet apart to allow for its dense, rounded growth habit.

Design Ideas for Your Garden

Hummingbird Summersweet is perfect for adding fragrance and structure to pollinator gardens, borders, or foundation plantings. Use it as a compact hedge or group it in clusters to create a bold summer display. Pair it with moisture-loving plants like Cardinal Flower, Blue Flag Iris, or Ferns for a lush and dynamic garden design. Its compact size also makes it ideal for smaller gardens or container plantings near patios or walkways, where its fragrant blooms can be fully enjoyed.

Ecological Benefits

Clethra alnifolia ‘Hummingbird’ supports a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, with its nectar-rich flowers. Its ability to thrive in wet soils helps improve water quality in rain gardens and stabilize soil, making it a sustainable and eco-friendly addition to your landscape.

Enhance your garden with the compact charm and ecological value of Clethra alnifolia ‘Hummingbird’ – Hummingbird Summersweet. This versatile native shrub offers beauty, fragrance, and wildlife support in any outdoor space.