shrub · design plant record

Clethra alnifolia

Coastal sweetpepperbush

Summer flowers and autumn colour for a moist shrub layer.

Photographs show the source plant or captioned cultivar, season and setting. They do not document one of our illustrative garden layouts as a built project.

Height at maturity

1.52–3.05 m (5–10 ft)

Spread at maturity

1.22–1.83 m (4–6 ft)

Light

Sun / Part shade

Moisture

Moist, draining soil / Wet-soil tolerance (check details)

Source-reported USDA zones

3–9 · verify subzone and cultivar

Principal seasonal role

Summer

Fit it to the site

Moist, acidic, organic soil; short wet periods are tolerated.

Reject a hot dry site; occasional drought tolerance does not remove the preference for moisture.

Keep the care in the decision

Review suckers and prune with its new-growth flowering habit in mind.

Origin & safety checks

Eastern North America. Confirm local native range and restrictions.

Toxicity and pet safety are not assessed here. An ornamental record is not an edible-use recommendation.

Check current invasive restrictions with your local plant-health or extension authority. For pets, use the exact botanical name in a veterinary toxicity reference; for potential ingestion or exposure, get appropriate professional advice rather than relying on a design guide.