Clethra alnifolia 'SEPTEMBER BEAUTY' summer sweet, sweet pepper bush
size/type
medium-sized shrub,medium-sized shrub
usual height
1,3-1,8m
usual width
1-1,5m
leaves
deciduous broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
showy
colour of flowers
blooming time
August-September
location
full to partial sun
soil type
acidic (peaty)
soil moisture requirements
evenly moist (dislikes drought)
USDA zone (lowest)
4 (down to -34°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Description of the plant:
September Beauty is a late flowering variety of summer sweet (sweet pepper bush). This deciduous shrub has been popular for quite a few decades and its new varieties attract more and more attention. No wonder – imagine a profusely flowering shrub like this in late August and early September when most other plants are finishing their blooming period. Flowers are small, white, and sweetly fragrant, and composed in erect racemes. Oval leaves are deciduous, mid-green, 3-6 cm long, finely serrated. For dense foliage it does not like being shaded by other, smaller companion plants very near. September Beauty is a compact variety, yet we suggest pruning it lightly every spring to achieve a densely branched, well-behaving shrub.
Grow it in acid, fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. It tolerates wet and heavy clay soil but hates drought. Fully hardy to about -34°C or more (USDA zone 4).
Last update 18-03-2013
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