Summary
With its tiered branching habit, rich green foliage and abundant blooms, Clethra acuminata is an ideal plant for small landscapes. This small deciduous tree or multi-stemmed shrub is suitable as an understory plant in rich, acid woodlands. Cinnamon clethra will grow 6-12’ tall and with age its outer bark exfoliates to reveal a cinnamon colored inner bark. The small white flowers bloom from mid-July to August, are borne on 3-8” long spires and open from the base to the tip. Clethra acuminata prefers a moist, well drained, humus-rich, acid soil but will adapt to drier sites. Cinnamon clethra is tolerant of shady conditions though it flowers best with more sun. Combine this species with a groundcover of Tiarella ‘Cygnet’, Leucothoe fontanesiana, Polystichum acrostichoides or Osmundastrum cinnamomeum.
More Details
- Plant Type
shrub, tree - Sun/Shade Conditions
filtered-shade, partial-shade - Foliage Character
deciduous - Soil Moisture
average, dry, moist - Flowering Period
late-summer, mid-summer - Soil PH
acidic - Flower Color
white - Summer Foliage Color
green - Fall Foliage Color
yellow - Fruit/Seed Color
brown