General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Partial or Dappled Shade
Partial Shade to Full Shade
Water Preferences: Wet Mesic
Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Very strongly acid (4.5 – 5.0)
Strongly acid (5.1 – 5.5)
Moderately acid (5.6 – 6.0)
Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 6a -23.3 °C (-10 °F) to -20.6 °C (-5 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 7b
Plant Height: 8 to 20 feet
Plant Spread: 8 to 20 feet
Leaves: Good fall color
Deciduous
Flowers: Showy
Fragrant
Flower Color: White
Bloom Size: 5"-6"
Flower Time: Summer
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Butterflies
Other Beneficial Insects
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Pollinators: Wasps
Bumblebees
Bees
Various insects
Miscellaneous: Monoecious

Image
Common names
  • Mountain Pepperbush
  • Mountain Clethra
  • Mountain Sweet Pepperbush
  • Cinnamon Clethra
  • Cinnamon-Bark Clethra

Photo Gallery
Location: Jenkins Arboretum in Berwyn, Pennsylvania
Date: 2019-01-13
clusters of dry brown capsules in winter
Location: Jenkins Arboretum in Berwyn, Pennsylvania
Date: 2018-11-04
in a shady spot has pale yellow fall color
Location: Jenkins Arboretum in Berwyn, Pennsylvania
Date: 2018-11-04
pale yellow leaves in a shady spot
Location: Mount Cuba Center, Hockessin, Delaware
Date: 2018-06-29
leaves of a specimen planted at forest edge
Location: Mount Cuba Center, Hockessin, Delaware
Date: 2018-06-29
specimen planted at forest edge
Location: northern Delaware
Date: 2011-08-12
a specimen in a foundation planting
Location: northern Delaware
Date: 2011-08-12
flowers and foliage
Comments:
  • Posted by ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Nov 30, 2017 9:04 PM concerning plant:
    The Mountain Pepperbush or Cinnamon Summersweet grows wild in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, Virginia, east Kentucky, east Tennessee, west North Carolina, a little into north Georgia in upland woods, on cliffs, and on slopes. It is stoloniferous and can form thickets. It gets its name from its red-brown bark that eventually becomes exfoliating. It would only be available at specialty nurseries.

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