Clethra alnifolia Vanilla Spice® ('Caleb') – Vanilla Spice® Summersweet

The 'Vanilla Spice' Clethra is a superb native shrub that fills the garden with a sweet, spicy fragrance in late summer, a time when few other shrubs are in bloom. It stands out for its particularly large white flowers and its remarkable ability to thrive and flower profusely even in shady areas and moist soils. It is the perfect solution for adding life and fragrance to the most difficult spots in the garden.

Characteristics

• Foliage: It develops dense, glossy, deciduous foliage in a beautiful dark green during the summer. In the fall, the leaves transform and take on a magnificent bright yellow hue.
• Flowering: In mid to late summer (July-August), it produces long, upright spikes (racemes) covered in small white flowers. The flowers of 'Vanilla Spice' are noticeably larger than the species and release a sweet, spicy fragrance that attracts pollinators from a great distance.
• Light: It flowers well in both full sun and partial shade, making it an excellent choice for less sunny gardens.
• Habit: It forms a shrub with a bushy, dense, and rounded habit.
• Growth: With a medium growth rate, it reaches a height and spread of 90 cm to 1.8 m (3-6 feet).
• Moisture: It prefers soil that remains cool and consistently moist.
• Soil: It thrives in moist, acidic soil rich in organic matter. It is one of the few shrubs that tolerates heavy, consistently moist, or even wet soils very well.
• Hardiness: Very hardy, it faces Zone 4 winters without any problem.
• Resistance: It demonstrates excellent resistance to deer.

Uses

• Types of Use: It is the quintessential shrub for shade gardens, woodlands, the banks of a pond or stream, and any area of the garden where the soil remains moist. It is also magnificent in mass plantings or as an informal hedge.
• Ornamental Features: It offers a spectacular and fragrant bloom at a time when the garden needs it (late summer). Its bright yellow fall colouration extends its interest to the end of the season.

Care

• Watering: Maintain consistently moist soil for optimal performance. It does not like drought.
• Fertilizing: Apply a fertilizer for acid-loving plants or compost in the spring to support its vigorous growth.
• Pruning: Since it blooms on new wood, prune it as needed in late winter or early spring to remove dead wood and maintain a good shape.
• Planting: Plant it in acidic soil rich in compost that retains moisture well.
• Winter Protection: No protection is required for this hardy native shrub.