Summersweet

About this plant

Elevate your garden's sensory experience with Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice', an outstanding selection of our native Summersweet. Adored for its long, bottlebrush-like spires of rich rose-pink flowers, this shrub provides a dazzling display from mid to late summer, a time when many other plants have faded. Beyond its stunning color, 'Ruby Spice' captivates with an intensely sweet, spicy fragrance that wafts through the summer air, attracting a chorus of butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Its handsome, deep green foliage remains clean and appealing throughout the season, transforming into a beautiful golden-yellow in the autumn, adding multi-season interest to any landscape. Remarkably adaptable, 'Ruby Spice' thrives in a variety of conditions, including moist soils and partial shade, making it an ideal choice for rain gardens, woodland borders, or brightening shadier spots. Its compact, upright form makes it suitable for both mixed borders and foundation plantings, offering a sophisticated touch with minimal fuss.

Installation timing

When we're in season, outside of the winter months, our goal is to get your plants installed within about two weeks. That window gives us enough time to secure your plants from our supplier and find a spot on the schedule. Throughout the process we stay in touch through notifications and your existing client portal on the main A Cut Above website, which is separate from this landscaping plants shop.

Care & maintenance

Easily grown in average to moist, acidic soil. Tolerates full sun to full shade but performs best and blooms most profusely in partial shade. Prefers consistently moist conditions and appreciates a good layer of mulch to retain soil moisture. Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges, if desired, to maintain shape or size; however, pruning is generally not required as it blooms on new wood.

Watering suggestions

Proper watering is the single most important factor in your plant's survival after installation. Newly installed plants have a limited root system and rely on you for consistent moisture while they establish.

• First 2 weeks: Water deeply every day (or every other day in cooler, wet weather), soaking the root ball and surrounding soil.
• Weeks 3–12: Water deeply 2–3 times per week, adjusting for rain, heat, and soil drainage.
• After establishment: Water deeply about once a week during the growing season, and more often in extreme heat or drought.
• How to check: Stick a finger 2–3 inches into the soil near the roots — if it's dry, it's time to water. Deep, less-frequent watering encourages strong roots; shallow daily sprinkles do not.
• Avoid: Overwatering (soggy, waterlogged soil) is just as harmful as underwatering and can drown roots.

Watering needs vary by plant, season, soil, and exposure. Because proper watering is the customer's responsibility after installation, please make sure you understand and can follow these suggestions before ordering.

Good to know: plants and trees purchased from and installed by A Cut Above include a one-year limited warranty from the date of installation. Because plant survival depends heavily on proper watering and care after installation, losses caused by improper care, neglect, animal or chemical damage, or extreme weather are not covered, and we must be given the chance to inspect a struggling plant before it's removed or replaced. Coverage is one replacement per plant. Read our warranty info.