CLETHRA Ruby Spice \nHas gathered a number of common names, White Alder, Sweet Pepperbush and Summersweet are only a few. \nA bushy, upright shrub with glossy, dark green leaves, deciduous, the leaves turn yellow or golden brown in autumn before they fall. \nRuby Spice bears short spikes of sweetly (clove like) scented flowers in late summer and early autumn. \nRosy-pink in colour these bottlebrush-like blooms do not fade with age, unlike many other members of the same family. \nSummersweet is ideal for a shrub border or the woodland garden. \nPrefers a site in full or dappled shade with wet, acid soil and will even tolerate clay. \nButterflies and many other pollinating insects find Clethra Ruby Spice highly attractive. \nVery easy to maintain, simple prune out any dead, diseased or damaged wood in late winter. \nThis Clethra is fully hard in UK although it may need a little protection in extremely exposed northern regions. \nRoyal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit (AGM). \n All pictures used are of mature plants in full bloom, they are for illustration purposes only and may not necessarily reflect plants at all times of the year. \nOur Clethra plants are supplied ex. 9cm pots, they can be planted out immediately but better results may be obtained if they are grown on for a short time in a slightly larger container before transplanting to their final growing positions \nJim Putnam has a wonderful  on this plant. \nPACK 1 PLANT \nIMMEDIATE \n \nSee our range shrubs here \nPlease remember plant maintenance within our nursery is absolutely essential and means we need to prune back some items at certain times of the year to help maintain shape and encourage new growth. \nWe ask all our buyers to remember Clethra plants are living items and their appearance changes with the seasons.  Please don’t panic if the plant you receive looks different to the image on the website. This is quite normal and not a matter for any worry or concern, it is likely to be in perfect condition for the time of year and just enjoying a well-earned rest before bursting into action for the new season. Particularly in autumn and winter many shrubs will lose their leaves and look rather bare, gaunt and stick-like and from August onwards many perennial plants may not even be showing above the soil.\n\nWe want you to be happy with your purchase and all our Clethra are checked and inspected visually before packing. . Due to the nature of the goods we cannot accept any responsibility for their failure after planting as pests, disease, poor horticultural practice, extremes of weather and many other factors outside our control all take their toll. Clethra Ruby Spice .  .