When I saw the scraggly thicket along the foundation wall of our new home, I made a mental note that it needed to go. Summersweet (Clethra alnigolia), was planted in the wrong place. This native plant looks lovely along the edge of the property but as a foundation plant, it was a tangled, unruly mass that grew in all directions. I planned to do the deed as soon as spring thaw arrived.
When March rolled around, I waded into the tangle with clippers and began to chop. After 30 minutes, I stepped out and was taken back at what I saw. I had tamed the thicket and liked the look. I decided to keep the clethra as a foundation plant. Bare during the winter months, spring brought green serrated leaves, and two months into summer brought fragrant and spicy clusters of white racemes that stood upright in 6-inch candles. Bees loved it. Hummingbirds loved it. Butterflies loved it. I love it…
The shrub does sucker and tries hard to grow into that thicket again. I simply don’t allow that. With a sharp bladed shovel, I chop through each sprout to keep the shrub tidy and I make sure I don’t over water as it seems to sucker more in wet soil. Late fall or early spring, I will prune out the dead and remove some of the oldest stems at ground level since the plant blooms on new growth.
Today I am enjoying another season of color from our clethra. Autumn brings bright yellow leaves that add some interest to the yard. Yes, I’ll be keeping my clethra.
Beautiful!! Glad you were able to tame it!
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I’m surprised I never had it in my garden before.
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Me too!
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Lovely plants!!!
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The blooms are fragrant, too.
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Pollinator magnets!
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It was Grand Central Station for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
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