The mountain cousin of the more commonly offered sweet pepperbush, Mountain Pepperbush is sometimes also called Cinnamon Clethra, named for its reddish brown, peeling bark that reminds us of the lustrous and beloved spice. Bark notwithstanding, Cinnamon Clethra could be considered the cinnamon spice of large shrubs – easygoing, fragrant, and a great addition to your palette…plant palette, that is! And it’s not just a joy for humans. The long racemes of delectably perfumed white blossoms attract bumblebees from near and far when they bloom in summer. Prune as a shrub or leave it to become a small tree, but either way, make sure this eye-catching (and nose-catching) plant is smelling distance from your kitchen window, patio, or favorite garden seat.
Conditions: Full sun to full shade, flowers best in part shade; moist, well-drained soils but adaptable to drier soils
Size: 10’-20’ tall, 4’-6’ wide
Zone: 6 - 7
Wildlife Value: Flowers attract bumblebees and medium to large solitary wasps; deer resistant
Photo: Plant Image Library, Douglas Goldman