Virginia Tech Dendrology

mountain pepperbush Clethraceae Clethra acuminata Michx. symbol: CLAC3
Leaf: Alternate, deciduous, 3 to 7 inches long, elliptical to ovate with an acuminate tip; margins finely serrate; dark glossy green above, paler and finely pubescent below.
Flower: : Species is monoecious; individual flowers perfect, small, white, bell-shaped, fragrant, 1/4 inch long; occurring in a narrow and dense terminal spike 3 to 7-inches long; appearing in mid-to late summer.
Fruit: Brown dry capsules occurring in long drooping clusters, persistent through the winter.
Twig: Slender and scruffy brown; buds with loose, somewhat fuzzy scales, terminal buds large; leaf scar with one bundle scar.
Bark: Attractive, with shreddy and exfoliating cinnamon-brown strips.
Form: A dense suckering shrub or small tree reaching up to 20 feet tall.
Looks like: summersweet clethra - mountain holly - maleberry

Additional Range Information: Clethra acuminata is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information