Clethra alnifolia Ruby Spice
Clethra alnifolia Ruby Spice
Clethra alnifolia Ruby Spice
Clethra alnifolia Ruby Spice
Clethra alnifolia Ruby Spice
Clethra alnifolia Ruby Spice
Panicled White Alder, Sweet Pepper Bush
Very beautiful plant, very vigorous, didn't flower this year, long live 2026... planted in a large pot.
Tatale chantal, 29/11/2025
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Description
Clethra alnifolia Ruby Spice is a variety of Sweet Pepperbush with a small habit, appreciated for its pink flowering instead of white like the species. With its bushy silhouette and clusters of pink flowers, reminiscent of callistemons, this shrub brings a touch of exoticism to cool and slightly shaded areas of the garden, often lacking in flowers at the end of summer, just like its autumn foliage with its golden hues enlivens the undergrowth at the end of the season. Clethra are shrubs that prefer humus-rich, non-chalky, moist to wet soils. They thrive in the same conditions as rhododendrons and autumn camellias, forming beautiful combinations with them.
Clethra alnifolia is a deciduous shrub with semi-suckering roots native to moist forests and marshy areas in the eastern United States. Its natural range extends from southern Maine to eastern Texas. In the wild, it forms small thickets that can reach 3m (9 ft 10 in) in all directions. It is highly hardy, at least down to -20°C (-4 °F).
The 'Ruby Spice' cultivar forms a compact bush that rarely exceeds 1m (3 ft 4 in) to 1.20m (3 ft 11 in) in all directions. It bears obovate, smooth, serrated leaves measuring 5 to 10cm (2 to 3.9 in) in length, arranged alternately. They are a tender green in summer and turn warm shades of yellow, gold, and orange in autumn before falling. Flowering usually occurs in September, depending on the climate. It takes the form of upright spikes measuring 8 to 15cm (3.1 to 5.9 in) in height, composed of multiple small, campanulate, pink, downy, and fragrant flowers. They open from the base to the top of the flower head. Their honey-like scent attracts many pollinating insects. The flowers are followed by small round fruits, grouped in slender clusters, which remain decorative on the branches in winter if not eaten by birds. These fruits, resembling peppercorns, have earned this shrub its name of 'sweet pepperbush' in the United States.
Clethra alnifolia Ruby Spice will only thrive in acidic and light soils that never dry out, in a partially shaded position. It finds its place in ericaceous beds or at the base of large deciduous trees, if the soil remains moist in summer. Pair it with small rhododendrons in shades of mauve, white, or pink, camellias, Kalmia latifolia, and winter-flowering heathers that will take over after its own flowering. As it tolerates container cultivation well, use it to decorate a terrace or patio.
Clethra alnifolia Ruby Spice in pictures
Plant habit
Flowering
Foliage
Planting and care
The Clethra alnifolia Ruby Spice, hardy up to a minimum of -20°C (-4 °F), is preferably planted in spring, in soil that remains moist all year round, light, well-drained, and acidic in partially shaded conditions. Adding leaf compost during planting is necessary. This bush cannot tolerate limestone or drought. Trim the faded flowers and, in winter, remove old stems. It is naturally resistant to diseases and parasites.
Planting period
Intended location
Care
Planting & care advice
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Hardiness is the lowest winter temperature a plant can endure without suffering serious damage or even dying. However, hardiness is affected by location (a sheltered area, such as a patio), protection (winter cover) and soil type (hardiness is improved by well-drained soil).
In temperate climates, pruning of spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, spireas, etc.) should be done just after flowering.
Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs (Indian Lilac, Perovskia, etc.) can be done in winter or spring.
In cold regions as well as with frost-sensitive plants, avoid pruning too early when severe frosts may still occur.
The harvesting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions in USDA zone 8 (France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...) fruit and vegetable harvests are likely to be delayed by 3-4 weeks.
In warmer areas (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), harvesting will probably take place earlier, depending on weather conditions.
The sowing periods indicated on our website apply to countries and regions within USDA Zone 8 (France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...), delay any outdoor sowing by 3-4 weeks, or sow under glass.
In warmer climes (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), bring outdoor sowing forward by a few weeks.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a (East Coast and Midlands: Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Portlaoise). It will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the north-west (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal, Westport), delay planting by 1 to 2 weeks in spring and bring it forward by 1 to 2 weeks in autumn compared to the dates given, preferably choosing periods without strong winds.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (Wicklow Mountains, Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, Connemara, Killarney), it is best to plant in spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October), avoiding periods of waterlogged soil in winter and strong winds, which pose the main risk to newly planted trees in these areas.
The flowering period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a, such as the East Coast and Midlands, including Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny and Portlaoise.
This will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the northwest (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal and Westport), it will be delayed by one to two weeks compared to the given dates, due to stronger Atlantic winds and less spring sunshine.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (the Wicklow Mountains, the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, Connemara and Killarney), flowering will be delayed by two to three weeks. Flowering mainly occurs between May and July, with the limiting factors being less frost and more of the excessive humidity, strong winds and lack of sunshine that are characteristic of these areas.
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