(Summersweet) Bring fragrance, pollinator appeal, and unique foliage to your garden with Clethra Ripple Effect™. Commonly called summersweet, this compact shrub is a standout for its thick glossy dark green leaves that shines all season long. In midsummer, long, upright clusters of sweetly scented white flowers appear. Ripple Effect™ products tons of flowers giving this plant the appearance of top to bottom blooms, filling the air with fragrance and attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Reaching about 3-5 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide, Ripple Effect™ has a naturally rounded habit that’s easy to tuck into mixed borders, foundation plantings, or as a specimen in smaller landscapes. Hardy in zones 4–10, this native shrub thrives in part shade to full sun and even tolerates moist or wet soils. This makes it especially useful for planting near ponds, rain gardens, or low areas that hold moisture.

Ripple Effect™ is low-maintenance, needing only a light trim in early spring to shape it. Regular watering helps in drier soils, and an application of fertilizer in spring can encourage lush growth and flowers. Clethra is generally a deer and rabbit resistant shrub.

With its combination of numerous fragrant blooms, and pollinator power, Clethra Ripple Effect™ is a versatile shrub that provides season-long interest in both sunny and shady spots. A Proven Winners® Color Choice Shrub!