When I shop for shrubs, I have specific criteria that I cannot compromise on. The shrub must be deer resistant and tolerant of wet, poorly drained soil. Luckily, over the years I have found that my pool of potential shrubs is much larger than I ever originally imagined.
One of the shrubs that has joyously met my criteria and thrived for years now is Clethra Ruby Spice.
This deciduous shrub has become a personal favorite of mine as it consistently blooms like mad each summer and the scent of these blooms is other worldly. Some other tidbits on this shrub:
- Survives in zones 4-8
- Maximum size seems to average out at about 6 x 5. Mine is about 5 x 3 in year four
- Here in zone 6, the bottle brush-like blooms usually appear in early July and last until early August. The blooms are an absolute magnet to butterflies and bees, especially bees.
- This shrub appears to be cool with full sun to partial shade but from what I’ve read, can bloom in deep shade and that is all sorts of awesome
- Like all Summersweet shrubs, Clethra Ruby Spice will apparently sucker although mine has yet to do so
- Clethra are native to the eastern U.S.
Some photos of my ‘Ruby Spice’:
In bloom:
The shrub shape has been good for me and the bright green and lustrous leaves make this one look good from afar:
The seed capsules look good, post bloom period:
And fairly decent (don’t believe some of the hype), autumnal color:
Besides the somewhat underwhelming fall color, the only other possible negative is that this shrub is late to leaf out in spring. One would be wise not to place this shrub in too prominent of a location if one isn’t OK with the lack of green in spring.
Beyond that, count me as a huge fan of Clethra Ruby Spice.
What has your experience been like? Please, do tell.
I have no experience of this shrub, but it looks lovely, the autumn colour and the flowers make it a good all rounder I would guess. Not sure about the latin name though, it does sound like some sort of horrid illness!
I bought two of these at the local big box store, and dug up 4 of the native bushes from the woods nearby. The white clethra grow thick in our woods and turn a clear lovely yellow in the fall. They do bloom in deep shade there but grow tall and lanky. They also grow happily in swampy locations. The two Ruby Spice are doing well in their challenging location under large spruce trees – dry soil with occasional flooding, shade except for hot afternoon sun. Basically a horrible place for any plant, but they soldier on and bloom well. Oddly, some of the Ruby Spice branches have the native white blooms, and some have the pink. I can’t imagine that these would have been grafted plants, but they act like it. An excellent plant either way. All of mine are suckering, but not in an aggressive way. I’d be happy for a thicket of them.
Also one of my go-to plants for swampy gardens. I have 2 and they don’t mind anything, and believe me, they get a lot of “anything.”
John, Question…do you fertilize your Clethra (Ruby Spice) ? If so, when?
Amy – I think this shrub is worth it alone for its ability to bloom in almost full shade. The fall color is a small bonus.
Kate – Awesome info! I am waiting on some suckering myself.
Sarah – you had me at swampy gardens. I’m thinking it may be a more appropriate name for this blog.
Deborah – I do not fertilize it and don’t think there is any need to do so. It really seems to thrive on neglect.
Does anyone know how and when to prune Pink Summersweet, Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’ plants?
Redraw… now is a good time to prune Ruby Spice (late winter/early spring). Once it blooms, too late to prune. Typically the dormant months are always recommended time for pruning any plant or tree.
My ruby spice summer sweet was beautiful as well as my little henry and sixteen candles. I spray them with liquid fence but this year the deer striped them of there leaves. I was just sick about it. Years past I used liquid fence and they never bothered them. By the way all so my hydrangea tree and all so my pinky winky bush. I look forward to summer because I love to be outside.working in my flower beds. Really upset me this year. I hope every ones having better luck than I am. Does anyone have any suggestions ?
Hi ONG
I planted my Ruby spice last spring and it gets about 3 to 6 hrs of direct sun and plenty of rain, we get rain about every other day and if we don’t I’ll water around 7 am the next morning so I make sure it’s gets plenty my concern is that I haven’t seen any blooms so far…. I’m also zone 6.
Worried the deer may be attracted to the plant
what to do to prevent the attack…
Do use. liquid fence. Thanks. ..
I feel like I should be a member of the Neurotic Club. I purchased a Ruby Spice Clethra in a somewhat shady area. I as so proud because it had began to bud. I could not wait until it bloomed
To see the unique colorful flowers. The RNC was in town and for some reason with the extreme
Hot temps in Cleveland, I look out and see the buds just wilting. I have watered on a regular basis
since initial planting. For 1 and 1/2 days I backed off the watering. Wrong! I am trying CPR with
resulting in Ruby’s shallow breathing. I do see some green on the bush. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. Clueless in a very Hot Cleveland!!!
Tony D – I know they are water lovers so I’m assuming that was the cause of the wilt? Any success in reviving?
I just found 2 of these yesterday at a big box store, already 4 feet tall and 25% off! If I plant them in my wettest area which gets afternoon sun, they are somewhat close to the patio. I’d like to know how far the fragrance travels. How far away might you be when you notice the fragrance? Thanks!
Hi Marjorie – Wet is good, afternoon sun is good and if anywhere within say 10 feet of the patio, the scent should be killer. Best of luck and thanks for reaching out!
I just got a pink clethra nd planted it about two weeks ago. It looked great but a few days ago I noticed it was starting to wilt. I gave it plenty of water and today the entire bush is wilting badly any ideas on what I am doing wrong? Please help this plant looks like it wants to die! I watered it every few days since it was planted. It gets a few hours of morning sun and is in mostly shade the rest of the day.
Darlene – are you still having issues with this shrub? Sounds to me like it may just have been transplant shock from being planted in summer? Hoping it has bounced back for you!