summersweet clethra Clethraceae Clethra alnifolia L. Listen to the Latin symbol: CLAL3 Other Fact Sheets
Leaf: Alternate, simple, finely serrated margin, obovate, 2 to 3 1/2 inches long, glabrous, shiny dark green above, paler below.
Flower: Small white flowers occurring in dense clusters on long 3 to 6 inch terminal spikes, appearing in mid to late summer.
Fruit: Brown dry capsules, occurring in long clusters, persistent through the winter.
Twig: Slender and scruffy brown; buds with loose scales, the terminal is much larger than the laterals; leaf scar with one bundle scar.
Bark: Grayish, eventually separating into loose strips.
Form: Dense shrub up to 10 feet tall, often root suckers to form thickets.
Looks like: sweetspire - swamp doghobble - coast leucothoe - fetterbush lyonia
leaf flower fruit twig bark form map
Additional Range Information:
Clethra alnifolia is native to North America. It is not widely planted. See states reporting summersweet clethra. 		External Links:
USDAFS Additional Silvics
USDA Plants Database 		Copyright 2011
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