Clethra alnifolia Sixteen Candles

The Clethra alnifolia 'Sixteen Candles' is a variety distinguished by the upright and straight shape of its white flower spikes. Its dwarf and compact habit also makes it suitable for containers or in isolation in small gardens. It blooms from July to August, producing abundant and highly fragrant flowers even in less sunny conditions. Its green foliage turns yellow in autumn, adding to its appeal. Use this bush to embellish the shadier areas of your garden in cool, non-calcareous soil.

The Clethra alnifolia is a small bush that grows spontaneously in the swampy forests of the United States' East Coast. It forms a small, dense, broad, rounded and slightly spreading bush, reaching a height of 2.50 m (8 ft 2 in) to 3 m (9 ft 10 in).

The 'Sixteen Candles' variety is a dwarf version of the Sweet Pepperbush. It forms a small compact bush about 90 cm (35.4 in) tall and 1.20 m (3 ft 11 in) wide, with a dense and stocky silhouette. When it likes its environment, it spreads through suckers to form small clusters. Its numerous and upright branches bear a deciduous foliage consisting of fine ovate, dentate, and glabrous leaves with strongly marked veins resembling those of the Alder, hence its vernacular name. The leaves appear late in spring in shades of yellowy green, changing to light green when mature. In autumn, the bush turns a quite decorative vibrant yellow before the foliage drops off.

The 'Sixteen Candles' Sweet Pepperbush stands out for its dwarf and compact habit as well as the abundance and markedly upright flowering habit. In July and August, the bush is adorned with numerous fairly straight white peaks about 15 cm (5.9 in) wide, giving them the appearance of candles. Its spiciform blooms consist of small bell-shaped flowers with feathery stamens that open from the bottom up along the clusters. The flowering of this dwarf Sweet Pepperbush is delicately fragrant and attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees, creating a beneficial biodiversity in the garden! The flowers then give way to small brown capsules in September. This decorative fruiting persists on the bush until winter and provides a valuable source of food for birds.

Due to its origins, the Clethra alnifolia prefers shaded positions and cool, rich, and loose soil tending towards acidic. Its intolerance to heat and drought means it can only be planted in full sun in regions with moderately warm summers. Although the Sweet Pepperbushe variety can fully withstand shaded positions, its growth may be slower and its flowering less abundant. Highly disease-resistant and hardy (it can withstand temperatures of at least -15°C (5 °F)), this Clethra is easy to grow and will display its full splendour with minimal care!

In small gardens, the 'Sixteen Candles' Sweet Pepperbush can be planted in isolation and bring life to any space with its exceptional flowering and stunning autumn colours. This attractive small bush will also find its place in a bed of heathers combined with Japanese Azalea, Hydrangea macrophylla, or Hydrangea paniculata to spread and diversify the blooms. The Sweet Pepperbush can also be used as a low hedge in combination with shrubs with decorative foliage. Its suckers make it a valuable stabiliser of sloping land so that it will readily settle on sloped or wet areas, and develop into a small cluster. Its compact size allows it to be grown in pots to enhance terraces and balconies, subject to regular watering. Do not hesitate to plant it near a living or walking area to enjoy its delicate spicy fragrance!