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Ripple Effect® Summersweet
Ripple Effect® Summersweet
$51.75
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| 1–3 | — | $51.75 ea |
|---|---|---|
| 4-9 | 5% off | $49.16 ea |
| 10-19 | 10% off | $46.57 ea |
| 20+ | 15% off | $43.99 ea |
Out of stock
Clethra alnifolia 'Ripple Effect'
Choose Ripple Effect® Summersweet for fragrant white flowers from summer into fall on a tidy, dense native shrub that actually likes damp ground. The tradeoff: it is deciduous and not the plant for hot, dry banks or for screening.
Buy This If
- You want late-summer fragrance and pollinators.
- Your soil stays evenly moist, even wet.
- You need a compact native shrub.
Skip This If
- You need evergreen cover.
- The site dries out hard.
- You want bold winter color.
PGNE Report Card
| Category | Grade | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape Impact | B+ | Fragrant white bottlebrush blooms give a strong late-summer show when little else is flowering. |
| Growth Rate | B+ | It establishes at a useful pace and fills in to a dense, mounded form. |
| Maintenance | A- | Little more than occasional shaping and removal of tired stems; keep it from drying out. |
| Deer Resistance | B+ | Deer tend to leave summersweet alone, though hungry deer may sample it where pressure is heavy. |
| Small Space Fit | A- | Its dense, moderate size suits smaller beds and damp corners better than older, larger clethras. |
| Screening Value | D | Too small and deciduous to provide meaningful screening. |
Our Experience
At PGNE, we'd reach for this in a moist bed or rain garden where a customer wants summer fragrance and pollinator value without a big, unruly shrub. It is one of the few fragrant natives that welcomes wet feet.
Plant Facts
| Botanical Name | Clethra alnifolia 'Ripple Effect' |
|---|---|
| Mature Height | 4 ft |
| Mature Width | 3.5 ft |
| Hardiness Zones | 4a-9b |
| Spacing | 3.5 ft |
| Sun | Full Sun to Part Shade |
| Moisture | Average to wet |
| Growth Habit | Mounded, dense, rounded |
| Native | Yes |
Customers Usually Ask
Does it need wet soil?
No, but it thrives where soil stays moist and even tolerates wet spots and rain gardens.
Is it fragrant?
Yes — the summer flowers are sweetly scented and draw bees and butterflies.
Will it make a hedge?
Not a privacy hedge; use it as a low, fragrant flowering mass.
Why Choose Shrubs for a Stronger Landscape?
- Structure & Definition: Shrubs frame homes, define walkways, and create organized planting beds.
- Privacy & Screening: Many varieties grow dense and full, making them ideal for natural hedges and property boundaries.
- Seasonal Color & Texture: From evergreen foliage to flowering varieties, shrubs provide visual interest in every season.
Shrubs Grown to Perform in New England
At Pro Growers of New England, our shrubs are grown and maintained locally to perform in true New England conditions. From flowering varieties to evergreen foundation plants, each shrub is properly spaced, pruned, and cared for to develop strong root systems and balanced structure before it ever reaches your landscape.
Unlike large online sellers that ship plants long distances, we invite you to visit our nursery, walk the rows, and inspect the exact shrubs available. You can see the size, health, and fullness in person — ensuring there are no surprises upon delivery.
Unlike large online sellers that ship plants long distances, we invite you to visit our nursery, walk the rows, and inspect the exact shrubs available. You can see the size, health, and fullness in person — ensuring there are no surprises upon delivery.
Pro Growers of New England, Inc
SKU:PGNE-31335
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