Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Coastal Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Ericales>Clethraceae>Clethra alnifolia L.

Coastal Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia)

This common shrub of the Coastal Plain, also called Summersweet, produces racemes of white to pinkish butterfly-attracting flowers in summer. The flowers have an intensely spicily sweet fragrance. Coastal Sweet Pepperbush also grows in the Piedmont at the edge of the Coastal Plain, as here.

Raven Rock State Park, Harnett Co., NC 8/18/05.

Coastal Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia)

Flower detail. The related Moutain Sweet Pepperbush (C. acuminata), which grows only in the Mountains, is much larger, and has longer-pointed leaves, peeling bark, and nearly unscented flowers.

Harnett Co., NC 8/18/05.

Coastal Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia)

Planted specimen, Chapel Hill, NC 8/6/05.

Coastal Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia)

Planted specimen, Chapel Hill, NC 8/6/05.

More information:
Connecticut Botanical Society
Floridata
University of Connecticut
Virginia Tech Dendrology

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