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Native Plant Database

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Clethra acuminata (Mountain sweet pepperbush)
Smith, R.W.

Clethra acuminata Michx.

Mountain sweet pepperbush, Cinnamon clethra

Clethraceae (Sweet-Pepperbush Family)

USDA Symbol: CLAC3

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A 12-20 ft., multi-stemmed shrub with exfoliating, red-brown bark. Dark-green foliage turns yellow-orange in fall. Dense, terminal, drooping spikes of white flowers are spicily perfumed and are followed by brown capsules which persist through winter.

No serious disease, insect or physiological problems. Often suckers.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 12-36 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AL , GA , KY , NC , PA , SC , TN , VA , WV
Native Distribution: Mts. of PA & WV to extreme n. GA mts.
Native Habitat: Wooded mt. bluffs & ravines
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
Soil Description: Acid, rocky soils.
Conditions Comments: No serious disease, insect or physiological problems. Often suckers.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Bumble Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Propagate by seed or softwood cuttings, with or without hormone treatment, under mist.
Seed Treatment: Tiny seeds require no pretreatment.
Commercially Avail: yes

From the National Suppliers Directory

According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:

LAMTREE FARM - Warrensville, NC
American Native Nursery - Quakertown, PA

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE

Bibliography

Bibref 996 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (1994) Wasowski, Sally and Andy Wasowski
Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Clethra acuminata in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Clethra acuminata in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Clethra acuminata

Metadata

Record Modified: 2012-07-06
Research By: TWC Staff

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