Professional Growing Information 
I bought Vanilla Spice along with Sugartina Crystalina variety - both were labelled as fragrant. Well, none of them have any fragrance. On top of it these are highly invasive. I have the suckers popping everywhere on my flower beds. they have thick root system, but pulling them is ok because they seem to be spreading not too deep. However, I am not a fan of this, because while the flowers are ok, there is no fragrance and invasive. I will have to remove from the ground and put them in a concrete container.
Vanilla Spice® Summersweet Clethra alnifolia
Flower Season
- Summer
- Fall
Mature Size
Height: 3' - 6'
Spread: 3' - 5'
Height: 91cm - 1.8m
Spread: 91cm - 1.5m
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Details
36 - 72 Inches60 - 72 Inches36 - 60 Inches91cm - 1.8m1.5m - 1.8m91cm - 1.5mFeatures
Extra large, fragrant summer blooms.
This delightful, deer-resistant native plant attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. The attractive, glossy dark green leaves set off the pure white summer flowers. The flowers are wonderfully fragrant! Plant it near the deck or patio to enjoy the sweet scent in mid-summer. Selected for its extra large flowers - individual florets are roughly double the size of other varieties.
Fragrant FlowerFall InterestAttracts:ButterfliesHummingbirdsResists:DeerNative to North AmericaCharacteristics
Plant Type:ShrubShrub Type:DeciduousHeight Category:TallGarden Height:36 - 72 Inches 91cm - 1.8mSpacing:60 - 72 Inches 1.5m - 1.8mSpread:36 - 60 Inches 91cm - 1.5mFlower Colors:WhiteFlower Shade:WhiteFoliage Colors:GreenFoliage Shade:Dark GreenHabit:UprightContainer Role:ThrillerPlant Needs
Light Requirement:Part Shade to ShadeLight Requirement:Part Sun to SunLight Requirement:SunThe optimum amount of sun or shade each plant needs to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours).
Maintenance Category:EasyBlooms On:New WoodBloom Time:Mid SummerHardiness Zones:4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9bWater Category:AverageUses:LandscapeUses Notes:Ideal for mixed borders and naturalizing, especially wet and semi-shady sites.
Maintenance Notes:Prune to shape in late winter. Fertilize with a controlled release fertilizer in spring. Supplemental fertilizing with liquid fertilizer may be needed in summer. Tolerates damp soils.
Vanilla Spice® Clethra alnifolia 'Caleb' USPP 21,589, Can 4,167 -
6 Reviews
5543211Browse reviews from people who have grown this plant.-
AG, North Carolina, United States, 1 year ago
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I bought 5 total of this shrub mainly because it said it could handle sun or shade. Four of them did very well but one really suffered. It received morning shade and afternoon sun. It burned pretty badly and lost a lot of leaves. I uprooted it and nursed it back to health in a container with potting soil. It began leafing out immediately. It's doing so well now that I planted it in a different location in my garden. I'm hoping that it'll thrive next year in its new location.
Donna Fernandez, Texas, United States, 2 years ago -
I planted this clethra spring of 2018, it was quart-sized. It more than doubled its size but didn't bloom. This year it's finally starting to bloom...the deer did get to it late spring and munched on many of the buds, much to my dismay, but it has bounced back! It's planted in a difficult place: wet, heavy clay, sun/part sun, and, seems quite happy there.
Marcia, Missouri, United States, 5 years ago -
I really love this plant so far. I planted it last summer and it came back this spring.
Elaine Mervau, Indiana, United States, 13 years ago -
Beautiful! Fragrant! Butterflies love it! Grows very well here
Loralea Kirby, New Jersey, United States, 13 years ago
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