Clethra alnifolia 'Fern Valley Pink'
summer sweet 'Fern Valley Pink'
An upright, suckering, deciduous shrub to 2.5m tall, with glossy, oval, finely toothed leaves. In late summer and early autumn, dark pink buds open to long, dense, upright spikes of very fragrant, pale pinkish white flowers
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Size
Ultimate height
1.5–2.5 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
1.5–2.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
AcidColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | White Pink | Green | ||
| Autumn | White Pink | Green | ||
| Winter |
Position
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Clethraceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Suckering
- Genus
Clethra can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs, sometimes with attractive bark, with simple leaves and small, fragrant, usually white, bell-shaped flowers in racemes or panicles
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained acidic soil in partial or dappled shade, a woodland garden is ideal
Propagation
Propagate by sowing seed in containers outdoors in spring or autumn. Take greenwood cuttings in early summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Flower borders and beds
Pruning
Remove some of the older stems from the base in winter, leaving the strongest suckers as replacement growth
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
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