Cinnamon Clethra, Cinnamon bark Clethra, Mountain Pepperbush, Mountain Sweet Pepperbush
Clethra acuminata
WNC Native. RARE. Tiered branching habit, rich green foliage, and abundant, lightly fragrant, late summer blooms attract butterflies and bees. Stunning yellow-orange fall color. Birds enjoy eating the seeds. Happiest in well-draining moist, humus-rich, acidic soil but can adapt to drier sites. As the plant ages, the bark with start to peel off in layers, revealing a rich cinnamon-red color, providing winter interest.
Clethra acuminata is harder to find in the horticultural trade than Clethra alnifolia, but Clethra acuminata is native to right here in the WNC mountains (and the Appalachian mountains more broadly). They are lovely plants in their own right, and deserve to be used far more widely.
12'T x 6'W, full sun to partial shade.
Zones 5-8.
| Sun, Part | |
| No | |
| Yes | |
| White | |
| Mild | |
| Yes | |
| Yes | |
| Yes |