Clethra alnifolia L.
Sweet pepperbush
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass Asteridae A large class that encompasses asters
Order Ericales Tea, persimmon, blueberry, Brazil nut, azalea, many others
Family Clethraceae Clethra (white alder) family
Genus Clethra From Greek word for alder, which has similar leaves
Species alnifolia With leaves like the genus Alnus
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.
See also these cultivated varieties, 'Hummingbird' , and
'Ruby Spice' .
Online References:
Plantdatabase.uconn.edu
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 × 7″ (11 × 17 cm) ID is uncertain
8/13/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Management Area, Groton, Shirley, & Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)
9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm) ID is uncertain
8/4/2013 · Barry’s, Acton, Massachusetts
8/12/2009 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 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 · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)
8/13/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Management Area, Groton, Shirley, & Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 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 · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm)
8/13/2017 · Burges Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 15 cm)
Older scientific or horticultural names
Clethra alnifolia L. var. tomentosa (Lam.) Michx.
Clethra tomentosa Lam.
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 · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm)
8/4/2013 · Barry’s, Acton, Massachusetts
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 × 4½″ (7.9 × 11 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 · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 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 · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)
8/13/2017 · Burges Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 4 × 6″ (11 × 16 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
Range: Zones 3-9:
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