Hummingbird Summersweet

Fragrant Summer Blooms
Compact Native Shrub
Pollinator Friendly

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#3 Container

$45.00

5 in stock

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$45.00

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Grasshopper Gardens offers free home delivery to customers in our local service areas. Experience the convenience of having your plants delivered straight to your home, free of charge, saving you time and effort.

Our local delivery area reaches as far north as Schroon Lake, south to Voorheesville, Glenmont, and East Greenbush areas, parts of Fulton and Montgomery counties, much of Washington County, and all areas in between. If you have questions on local delivery, give us a call at

518-793-9623.
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Hummingbird Summersweet

Sunlight
Can grow in a range from full sun to partial shade. They need at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight per day.
Watering
Regular watering schedule for the first six months. Once established, rainwater should be sufficient.
Fertilizing
Should not need any extra fertilizer unless your entire lawn and garden have problems and needs regular fertilizing.

Hummingbird Summersweet

Hummingbird Summersweet is a compact native flowering shrub valued for fragrant white midsummer blooms, glossy green foliage, pollinator appeal, and golden fall color. Its tidy size and moisture-loving nature make it excellent for rain gardens, foundation beds, mixed borders, and woodland-edge plantings.

Why choose Hummingbird Summersweet?

Choose Hummingbird Summersweet for a smaller-growing summersweet with sweetly scented summer flowers and easy landscape versatility. Its upright white flower spikes attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, while the compact habit fits beautifully into tighter spaces than many larger Clethra varieties. This shrub is especially useful in moist soils, native plantings, rain gardens, and partially shaded borders where fragrance, seasonal color, and wildlife value are important.

Key Characteristics

Botanical Name: Clethra alnifolia ‘Hummingbird’
Common Name: Hummingbird Summersweet
Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
Growth Habit: Compact, rounded to mounded, suckering shrub

Hummingbird Summersweet Additional Information

Hummingbird Summersweet blooms in mid to late summer, producing upright spikes of small, fragrant white flowers above dense green foliage. The flowers are especially valuable for pollinators and add welcome color and scent during the warmer part of the season. After bloom, small seed capsules may remain on the stems, adding subtle winter texture once the foliage has dropped.

This deciduous shrub typically stays more compact than the straight species, making it a strong choice for foundation plantings, rain gardens, mixed shrub borders, native gardens, and woodland edges. It prefers moist, acidic, organic-rich soil and can slowly spread by suckers where conditions are favorable. The foliage often turns soft yellow to golden yellow in fall, extending its seasonal appeal. Since Hummingbird Summersweet flowers on new wood, pruning is best done in late winter or early spring before new growth begins.

Planting & Care

1. Planting: Plant Hummingbird Summersweet in full sun to partial shade with moist, acidic, organic-rich soil. Set the root ball level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, and water thoroughly after planting.

2. Watering: Keep soil evenly moist during establishment. Once rooted in, maintain consistent moisture during dry periods, especially in sunny locations, sandy soil, or newly planted rain garden areas.

3. Mulching: Apply a 2–3 inch layer of mulch around the root zone to conserve moisture, cool the soil, and reduce weed competition. Keep mulch slightly away from the main stems.

4. Pruning: Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Remove damaged stems, lightly shape as needed, or thin older growth while preserving the shrub’s natural compact form.

Related Resources

FAQs

How big does Hummingbird Summersweet get?
Hummingbird Summersweet typically grows about 3–4 feet tall and wide, making it a compact option for foundation beds, smaller borders, rain gardens, and grouped native plantings.
When does Hummingbird Summersweet bloom?
It usually blooms in mid to late summer with fragrant white flower spikes. This later bloom time adds color and pollinator activity after many spring shrubs have finished flowering.
Does Hummingbird Summersweet need full sun?
It grows well in full sun to partial shade. Full sun can encourage heavier flowering when soil moisture is consistent, while partial shade works well in woodland-edge settings.

Shipping Details

Estimated Shipping Time: Most orders ship immediately. As noted on the website, some items are seasonal, and may only ship in spring or fall. Once your order is shipped, you’ll receive an email with a tracking number.

Amount of Order	Shipping Charge
Local Delivery	FREE SHIPPING
Non-Local Delivery	Varies based on UPS shipping

Lush Foliage
Partial Shade
Flowering

Mature Height	Small: Up to 15 ft
Mature Spread	5-10 ft
Growth Rate	Moderate, Slow
Botanical Name	Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird'
Bloom Time	Mid Summer
Family	Clethracease
Flower Color	White
Maintenance	Low
Hardiness Zones	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Light Needs	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Deer Resistant	Usually
Size	#3 Container

Map of the United States with most states shaded green and boundary lines visible.

Growing Zones 4-9 Outdoors

(Hardy down to -30)

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Maintenance	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low