Vanilla Spice® Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia)

Vanilla Spice Summersweet up close.
Vanilla Spice Summersweet up close.
Vanilla Spice Summersweet up close.
Vanilla Spice Vanilla Spice Summersweet up close.
Infographic explaining and showing dormancy in shrubs.
Vanilla Spice Summersweet in focus.

Vanilla Spice® Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia)

🎉Plant More, Save More
Buy Any 8, Save 15%
Buy Any 16, Save 20%
Buy Any 32, Save 25%
Please Note: Our Ships Now shrubs will currently ship dormant. The foliage is turning colors, drying out, and falling off. During dormancy, plants go inactive to conserve their energy for the next growing season. This happens naturally as seasons change!
You must select Size and Ship Week to see accurate sale price and availability.
All preorder plants must have the same Ship Week selected to validate your order.
Regular price $20.99
/
  • Happy Gardener Guarantee
  • Free Shipping $75+
  • Secure payments
  • In stock, ready to ship
  • Inventory on the way

Height 36-72 in.
Spread 36-60 in.
Zones 4 5 6 7 8 9
Current Location:

Indulge in the delightful scent of Vanilla Spice®! This native plant boasts extra large, fragrant blooms that attract beautiful butterflies and hummingbirds. The glossy dark green leaves perfectly complement the pure white flowers. Plant near your deck or patio for a sweet summer aroma. Selected for its larger-than-life blooms, you won't want to miss out on this fragrant treat! And the fun doesn't stop there! In autumn you'll be dazzled by it's gorgeous show of oranges, red and yellows.

  • 3-6 feet tall and 3-5 feet wide at maturity
  • Hardy in zones 4-9, be sure to check your USDA zone to ensure success
  • Plant in part shade to full sun (4+ hours daily)
  • Space plants 5-6 feet apart for best results
  • Produces highly fragrant, white flower spikes in mid-summer
  • Maintains green foliage spring and summer transitioning to hues of orange, red, and yellow in the fall
  • Blooms on new wood
  • Great for landscapes, mixed borders, edging
  • Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds while resisting deer
  • Native to North America, salt tolerant, fall interest

Our deciduous shrubs are entering their natural dormancy phase. As part of this process, foliage is turning colors, drying out, and falling off—this is completely normal! Shedding leaves helps the plants conserve energy and prepare for the next growing season. Rest assured, your shrubs will wake up and thrive again when it's time in your growing zone. Dormancy is how they prepare for a healthy, vibrant comeback as the seasons change!

Care:  Fertilize with Proven Winners Continuous Release Plant Food in spring and mid-summer.  Regular pruning isn’t needed. Shape as desired in early spring as new growth is emerging. Flower coverage, fragrance, and brilliance of fall color are at their best with at least four hours of direct exposure to the sun.

Shipping Info:

  • Enjoy free shipping on orders over $75
  • Size at shipping varies by the season and plant
    • Quart shrubs are 5-8 in. at the time of shipment
    • 1 Gallon shrubs are 6-24 in. at the time of shipment
  • Shrubs shipped Nov-Apr will arrive dormant; shrubs shipped Apr-Oct will arrive green or in bloom

Read our guide to get started with planning a garden

Features

  • Attracts Pollinators

Characteristics

  • Height: 36-72 in.
  • Spread: 36-60 in.
  • Habit: Upright
  • Light Requirements: Full Sun (6+ Hours)
  • Light Requirements: Part Sun (4-6 Hours)
  • Light Requirements: Shade (<4 Hours)
Recently viewed