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| ## coastal sweet pepperbush {#coastal-sweet-pepperbush .Title-Header} |
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| *Clethra alnifolia* L.                                                |
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| Plant Symbol = CLAL3                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.7784722222222222in" height="1.925in"}

#####  {#section .Header-3}

##### Alternate Names  {#alternate-names .Header-3}

Clethra, *Clethra alnifolia* var. *tomentosa, Clethra angustifolia,
Clethra bracteata, Clethra incana, Clethra michauxii, Clethra
paniculata, Clethra pubescens, Clethra pumila, Clethra scabra, Clethra
tomentosa*, poorman's soap, summer sweet, sweet pepper bush, white
alder.

##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

*Erosion control:* Coastal sweet pepperbush spreads by sending up new
shoots, forming a thicket of low bushes. Growth from root suckering will
provide moderate erosion control along streams and ponds.

*Garden and landscape:* The foliage and flowers of coastal sweet
pepperbush make it an attractive garden shrub. It can be used in a mixed
shrub hedge or border and pruned to maintain a small size. The lush
green leaves turn to golden yellow in autumn. The fragrant flowers last
up to 6 weeks or more during the middle of summer while other flowering
shrubs are not blooming due to the heat.

*Utility right of ways:* Coastal sweet pepperbush is sometimes used to
halt succession of tall trees along pathways. It has been planted
following herbicide

application along electrical transmission, telephone, railroad,
roadside, and pipeline right of ways. Its low

stature does not interfere with the general operations around these
utility areas.

*Wildlife:* The fragrant white flowers and nectar of coastal sweet
pepperbush attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Deer eat it only when
other forage vegetation is limited. Birds eat the fruit and aid in seed
dispersal.

##### Legal Status {#legal-status .Header-3}

Coastal sweet pepperbush is listed as a special concern species in Maine
and as threatened in Tennessee. Please consult the PLANTS Web site
(http://plants.usda.gov) and your State Department of Natural Resources
for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species,
state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

##### Description {#description .Header-3}

*General*: White Alder Family (Clethraceae). Coastal sweet pepperbush is
a large deciduous shrub that grows to 2.5 m tall. The bark is smooth,
reddish-orange or gray in color, and 2 to 3 mm in diameter. Twigs are
reddish-orange covered with dense white hairs. Leaves are alternate,
simple, 5 to 8 cm long, and toothed toward their tips. They are medium
to dark green, turn golden yellow in the fall and have appressed white
hairs along the midvein. Flowers are up to 1 mm long and 0.8 mm wide,
composed of 5 white fused petals. Seventeen to one hundred fragrant
flowers form the bottlebrush-like inflorescences that are about 10 cm
long and 2 cm wide. The fruiting stalk has many miniature oval 3-seeded
capsules that are winter-persistent and are good identification
features. Coastal sweet pepperbush produces leaves in late spring,
flowers in July and August, and sets fruit in September and October. The
yellow fall foliage persists for two to four weeks.

*Distribution*: This is the only species in the genus *Clethra* that is
native to North America. It occurs from southern Maine and New
Hampshire, south to eastern Texas and Florida. For current distribution,
please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web
site (http://plants.usda.gov).

*Habitat*: Coastal sweet pepperbush is found in wet woods, thickets,
marshes, swales and bogs, along lake and stream edges, and near rocks in
water. It is typically not a dominant species in plant communities.
Common overstory associates include cypress, Atlantic white cedar,
coastal pine species, red maple, magnolias, and beech.

#####  {#section-1 .Header-3}

##### Adaptation {#adaptation .Header-3}

The USDA hardiness zones for coastal sweet pepperbush are 4 to 9. It
grows naturally in poorly drained, moist soils and will get larger and
produce more suckers if provided plenty of water. Once established, it
can also thrive on drier, well-drained soils. The optimum soil pH is
approximately 4.5. Coastal sweet pepperbush is moderately salt tolerant
and can be grown near, but not directly behind, beaches.

Coastal sweet pepperbush is a shade-tolerant understory shrub that grows
under the canopy of old-growth trees. It will grow in full sun, but does
best in a light, dappled shade.

#####  {#section-2 .Header-3}

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

Legginess occurs with age among coastal sweet pepperbush plants.
Aggressive root suckering also occurs with age, which is an asset if
naturalization or moderate erosion control is desired.

Coastal sweet pepperbush can build up and create a fire hazard. It can
be controlled with regular prescribed burning. Most fires probably
top-kill sweet pepperbush, but the plant can resprout from surviving
stolons. Fires severe enough to consume the organic soil may kill
stolons.

##### Pests and Potential Problems {#pests-and-potential-problems .Header-3}

Damage caused by spider mites can be severe on plants in hot, dry
locations.

**Seeds and Plant Production**

Coastal sweet pepperbush can be propagated by seeds, summer cuttings, or
sucker division. Seeds are cold stratified for 30 days and germinated
under spring temperatures.

Collect 10 cm long softwood cuttings at the end of May or the beginning
of June and strip the leaves from the lower two-thirds of the cutting.
Wound the lower portion of the stem and apply a powder or liquid root
hormone compound. Place cuttings in coarse sand that is 7 to 10 cm deep
and lightly water at least every 2 hours. The medium can be any
well-drained mixture that does not contain soil. Provide shade to the
cuttings for the first 7 to 10 days to allow the cuttings to harden off
before exposing them to full sun. For best rooting results, place
cuttings in an intermittent misting system.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

The USDA NRCS Plant Materials Program has not released any cultivars of
coastal sweet pepperbush for conservation use.

Several ornamental cultivars are available through commercial nurseries.
These cultivars include 'Anne Bidwell,' 'Creels Calico,' 'Hummingbird,'
'Paniculata,' 'Pink Spires,' 'Ruby Spice,' 'September Beauty,' and
'Summersweet Clethra.' These cultivars have been developed for flower
size and color, foliage variegation and shine, plant stature, and
extended bloom time.

Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil
Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone
book under "United States Government." The Natural Resources
Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading "Department of
Agriculture."

**References**

Agricultural Research Center. 2004. *GRIN taxonomy*
(http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/index, 17 May 2004). USDA,
Beltsville.

Baskin, C.C. and J.M. Baskin. 2002. *Propagation protocol for production
of container [Clethra alnifolia]{.underline} L. plants.*
(http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org, 17 May 2004). Forest Research
Nursery, College of Natural Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow.

Brand, M. 2001. *Clethra alnifolia*
(http://www.hort.ucon.edu/plants/index.html, 17 May 2004). University of
Connecticut Plant Database, Storrs.

Christman, S. 2003. *Clethra alnifolia*
(http://www.floridata.com/ref/c/clet_aln.cfm, 17 May 2004). Floridata,
Tallahassee.

Clements, S. 1997. *New York metropolitan flora project*
(http://www.bbg.org/sci/nymf/index.html, 17 May 2004). Brooklyn
Botanical Garden, Brooklyn.

Colandonato, M. 1991. *Clethra alnifolia.*
(http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/, 17 May 2004). Fire Sciences
Laboratory, Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service,
Missoula.

Department of Horticulture and Crop Science. 2002. *Plant facts*
(http://plantfacts.osu.edu/, 17 May 2004). The Ohio State University,
Columbus.

Ducey, V. 2003. *USF Herbarium slide collection.*
(http://www.plantatlas.usf.edu, 17 May 2004). Institute of Systematic
Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

##### Evans, E. 2001. *Plant fact sheets* (http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/index.html, 17 May 2004). North Carolina State University, Raleigh. {#evans-e.-2001.-plant-fact-sheets-httpwww.ces.ncsu.edudeptshortconsumerfactsheetsindex.html-17-may-2004.-north-carolina-state-university-raleigh. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-3 .Header-3}

##### Koning, R.E. 1994. *Artificial plant propagation.* (http://plantphys.info/Plants_Human/Vegprop/vegpropa.html, 24 May 2004). Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic. {#koning-r.e.-1994.-artificial-plant-propagation.-httpplantphys.infoplants_humanvegpropvegpropa.html-24-may-2004.-eastern-connecticut-state-university-willimantic. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-4 .Header-3}

##### Ultee, C.J. 2003. *Connecticut wildflowers* (http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/galleries/ galleryindex.html, 17 May 2004). Connecticut Botanical Society, Glastonbury. {#ultee-c.j.-2003.-connecticut-wildflowers-httpwww.ct-botanical-society.orggalleries-galleryindex.html-17-may-2004.-connecticut-botanical-society-glastonbury. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-5 .Header-3}

##### Virginia Tech Forestry Department. 2003. *Dendrology tree fact sheets* (http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/factsheets.cfm, 17 May 2004). Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg. {#virginia-tech-forestry-department.-2003.-dendrology-tree-fact-sheets-httpwww.cnr.vt.edudendrodendrologyfactsheets.cfm-17-may-2004.-virginia-polytechnic-institute-and-state-university-blacksburg. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-6 .Header-3}

##### Wunderlin, R.P., and B.F. Hansen. 2003. *Atlas of Florida vascular plants* (http://www.plantatlas.usf.edu, 17 May 2004). Institute of Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa. {#wunderlin-r.p.-and-b.f.-hansen.-2003.-atlas-of-florida-vascular-plants-httpwww.plantatlas.usf.edu-17-may-2004.-institute-of-systematic-botany-university-of-south-florida-tampa. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-7 .Header-3}

##### Prepared By:  {#prepared-by .Header-3}

##### *Sarah Wennerberg* {#sarah-wennerberg .Header-3}

Formerly USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

##### Species Coordinator:  {#species-coordinator .Header-3}

*Mark Skinner*

USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

##### Edited: 24May2004 sbw; 20Oct2004 rln; 06jun06 jsp {#edited-24may2004-sbw-20oct2004-rln-06jun06-jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

*The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual
orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
TDD).*

*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.*

*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
Service](http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/civilrights/).*