Clethra alnifolia L.

Sweet pepperbush

About plant names...

Sweet pepperbush is native to the temperate regions of eastern North America. Pepperbush has no relation to peppercorns or peppers, but its seed capsules resemble peppercorns.

Plants: This deciduous woody shrub, 5-8' (1.5-2.4 m) tall and 4-6' (1.2-1.8 m) around, has multiple stems, is most often found near fresh water in areas that are at least seasonally wet. The shrubs form densely packed colonies.

Leaves: Leaves are dense, alternate, 1½-4" (3.8-10 cm) long and 1-2" (2.5-5 cm) wide. The leaves have a prominent vein structure and serrated edges, and are usually shaped like ovals with pointed ends. In the fall, they are yellow-green to yellow-brown.

Flowers: The pleasant-smelling flowers are white to pink, in narrow cone-like clusters 4" (10 cm) × ¾" (1.9 cm). Individual flowers are ⅛-⅜" (5-10 mm) around.

Fruits: In the fall, the flowerheads are filled with small oval seed capsules that persist through the winter. Each capsule has three sections.

Online References:

The University of Connecticut Plant Database

The Ohio State University PLANTFacts database

Plants.ces.ncsu.edu

The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

7/20/2012 · J. Harry Rich Dirt Road, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 3½ × 5" (9.2 × 13 cm)

(Probably a cultivar) · 8/27/2021 · Harpswell Historic Park, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 7 × 4½" (16 × 11 cm)

9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4½ × 6" (11 × 14 cm) ID is uncertain

8/13/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Management Area, Groton, Shirley, & Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 3½ × 3½" (9.8 × 9.2 cm)

9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4 × 3" (10 × 8.3 cm) ID is uncertain

8/4/2013 · Barry’s, Acton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 5 × 8" (13 × 19 cm)

8/12/2009 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 8 × 6" (20 × 15 cm)

9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain

8/12/2009 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 5 × 4" (13 × 10 cm)

8/13/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Management Area, Groton, Shirley, & Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 5 × 4" (12 × 10 cm)

9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 3½ × 5" (9.2 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain

7/20/2012 · J. Harry Rich Dirt Road, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 14 × 9" (35 × 23 cm)

9/7/2010 · Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 9 × 7" (22 × 18 cm)

8/13/2017 · Burges Pond, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4 × 6" (10 × 15 cm)

Clethra alnifolia description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 7 Oct 2021.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.

9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 2½ × 3½" (6.6 × 9.8 cm) ID is uncertain

8/12/2009 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 7 × 6" (18 × 14 cm)

8/4/2013 · Barry’s, Acton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 5" (16 × 12 cm)

8/13/2017 · Burges Pond, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 4" (16 × 11 cm)

9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 5 × 8" (13 × 19 cm) ID is uncertain

11/22/2011 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 3 × 3½" (7.5 × 9.5 cm) ID is uncertain

9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 5 × 8" (13 × 19 cm) ID is uncertain

9/21/2010 · Unquetynasset Brook, Nashua River Rail Trail, Dunstable, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4½ × 3" (11 × 7.9 cm)

9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4 × 6" (10 × 15 cm) ID is uncertain

7/20/2012 · J. Harry Rich Dirt Road, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 3½ × 5" (9.2 × 13 cm)

8/13/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Management Area, Groton, Shirley, & Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 5" (16 × 13 cm)

7/20/2012 · J. Harry Rich Dirt Road, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 11 × 7" (27 × 18 cm)

8/13/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Management Area, Groton, Shirley, & Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4 × 3½" (10 × 9.2 cm)

8/13/2017 · Burges Pond, Westford, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4 × 6" (11 × 15 cm)

9/21/2010 · Unquetynasset Brook, Nashua River Rail Trail, Dunstable, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 9.2 cm)

8/4/2013 · Barry’s, Acton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 5 × 8" (13 × 19 cm)

Range: Zones 3-9:

About this map...