Clethera, Summersweet 'Ruby Spice'

Clethera, Summersweet 'Ruby Spice'
Sun Preference
Full-Sun, Part-Sun
As low as: $0.00

Description

One of the most fragrant of all garden shrubs with showy spikes of sweetly scented deep pink flowers bloom in late summer when little else is in flower; a very hardy variety, neat, tidy habit of growth and good fall color; needs moist acidic soil.

Minnesota's Largest Selection of Shrubs

Elevate your landscaping with Gertens' unmatched variety of shrubs! Selecting the right shrubs for your backyard can enhance its beauty and functionality. Consider factors like sunlight, soil type, and mature size when choosing shrubs. For sunny areas, flowering shrubs like roses or hydrangeas can add color and charm. In shady spots, opt for shrubs like azaleas or hostas. Evergreen shrubs provide year-round interest and privacy, while deciduous shrubs offer seasonal color changes. At Gertens, we offer a wide selection of shrubs to suit every backyard need.

Top Ten: Shrub Recommendations

From Our Experts

Planting in Clay or Sandy Soil

Help and Advice

Details

Height: 5 feet

Spread: 5 feet

Sunlight:full sunpartial shade

Hardiness Zone: 4a

Other Names: Sweet Pepperbush

Description:

One of the most fragrant of all garden shrubs with showy spikes of sweetly scented deep pink flowers bloom in late summer when little else is in flower; a very hardy variety, neat, tidy habit of growth and good fall color; needs moist acidic soil

Ornamental Features

Ruby Spice Summersweet has masses of beautiful spikes of fragrant ruby-red flowers rising above the foliage from mid to late summer, which are most effective when planted in groupings. It has green foliage throughout the season. The glossy round leaves turn an outstanding harvest gold in the fall. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.

Landscape Attributes

Ruby Spice Summersweet is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a shapely oval form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

  • Suckering

Ruby Spice Summersweet is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • General Garden Use
  • Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens

Planting & Growing

Ruby Spice Summersweet will grow to be about 5 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It is quite adaptable, prefering to grow in average to wet conditions, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species.

SKU Container Size
S0850 #2 Container (2 Gallon)
S0852 #5 Container (5 Gallon)

* Not all container sizes may be available at this time. See store for details on specific container size availability.

More Information

Available for Pre-Order No
Sun Preference Full-Sun, Part-Sun
USDA Hardiness Zone 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Common Family Name Summersweet

Product Questions (15)

Tree roses are not hardy enough to stay outside in the winter. So ideally you have hopefully left them in some sort of pot. Continue to leave them outdoors, keep them well watered through the autumn. Come about Thanksgiving, they should be dormant- all...
Gertens carries annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, water plants, house plants, edibles, cacti/succulents, seasonal blooming holiday plants and a wide variety of bulbs and seeds!
Annuals are plants that complete their life cycle in one growing season (spring – fall/frost). Perennials are plants that live for more than two growing seasons. They die back in winter and re-emerge in spring. ...
Hardiness is the capacity of a cultivated plant to withstand adverse conditions, usually its tolerance of low temperature. Plants are given a hardiness rating by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 11 zones based on the coldest or warmest temperature...
Tipped on its side and put inside a vehicle, in the bed of a pickup, or on a trailer. Gertens employees can help in wrapping the pot so that you don’t lose any dirt while transporting.
Attracting hummingbirds, butterflies and bees to your garden is best done with flowering plants, usually native perennials and grasses. Grasses can provide habitat, while flowering natives provide nectar. There are also a variety of annuals and tropical...
Maples and Elm trees are fast growing, for the most part. There are some varieties within those families that are faster than others. Aspen, Siouxland Poplar and Honeylocust are a few additional options.
We typically recommend Arborvitaes for forming privacy barriers, but we have a wide variety of options. Ultimately, it's going to come down to the site conditions, space available, and preference of appearance. If you have additional questions regarding...
It depends on the variety of tree, and the age of the tree. Late winter is a great time to do pruning—except with Maples and Birches as their saps are flowing at that time. Stop in to Gertens and visit with our tree staff for winter care tips on specific...
Fruit trees are suppose to ripen at certain times of the year (this info can be found in our retail catalog). By monitoring the fruit itself and the time of year, it can ...
It depends on what type of fruit it is, what variety within that family it is, and the site conditions. Your tree may produce fruit the first year, but not the next two, it can be random while they are still young. Within 3-4 years you should start seeing...
Yes, you can overwater plants. Especially in pots but also in the ground, however, planting in the ground allows for better water dispersion so the odds of overwatering are less. Low lying areas may be more prone to flooding. Areas with clay soil also...
When planting a new tree, you will want to dig a hole no deeper than the pot the tree is in, and about twice as wide. Place the tree in its container either inside of, or next to the hole. Free the root ball from the container (the container may need...
You will want to dig a hole no deeper than the pot the shrub is in, and about twice as wide. Place the shrub still in its container either inside of, or next to the hole. Free the root ball from the container (the container may need to be cut off using...
A rough estimate for the last frost date here in zone 4b is the first week of May. This is not exact, as Minnesota weather can be variable, but it does help for plantings.
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