Ruby Spice Summersweet

Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice'

$35⁸¹

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Understanding Plant Options

Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:

Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements

Container Plant Sizes

Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.

Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2" x 2" x 3"	0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts	0.20 - 0.23 dry liters
4" Container	0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts	0.35 - 0.96 dry liters
4.5" Container	0.65 dry quarts	0.72 dry liters
6" Container	1.4 dry quarts	1.59 dry liters
1 Quart	1 dry quart	1.1 dry liters
5.5" Container	1.89 dry quarts	2.08 dry liters

Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2 Quart	2 dry quarts	2.2 dry liters
#1 Container	2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts	2.49 - 4.11 dry liters
5" x 5" x 12"	3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts	3.85 - 4.74 dry liters

Mature Plants (2-4 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#2 Container	1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons	5.24 - 7.75 dry liters
#3 Container	2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons	8.14 - 12.16 dry liters

Large Plants (3-5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#5 Container	2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons	12.86 - 20.35 dry liters
#6 Container	5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons	23.12 - 26.42 dry liters
#7 Container	5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons	26.34 - 28.76 dry liters

Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.

Common Sizes:

Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet

Important Notes

Container Volume Specifications

Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents

Growing Conditions

Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment

Seasonal Availability

Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
Container plants are available throughout the growing season
Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes

Questions?

For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.

Plant Profile & Growing Essentials

Cold hardy, Native, Fragrant, Wet Soils, Deer-resistant, Flowering, Attracts Butterflies, and Attracts pollinators

Specifications

Botanical Name

Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice'
Height

3-6 ft
Width

3-4 ft
Growing Zones

4-9
Sunlight
- Full sun
Growth Rate

Slow
Flower Color
- Pink
Leaf Color
- Green
- Yellow
Fall Color

Yellow
Native

Yes
Pollinator Friendly

Yes
Pollinator Required

No
Bloom Period

Early Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Late Fall
Does Not Ship To

AK, HI, ID, MT, OR

Planting & Care Instructions

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Ruby Spice thrives in full sun to partial shade, requiring at least 4 to 6 hours of direct light. While it tolerates shade better than most flowering shrubs, more sun results in deeper pink flower color and more prolific blooms.
Soil: This shrub loves "wet feet" and prefers consistently moist, acidic soil enriched with organic matter. If you have heavy clay that stays damp, this is the perfect solution, but for sandy soils, you should mix in several inches of peat moss or compost to help hold moisture.

Watering Requirements

During the first two growing seasons, provide 1 inch of water per week to help the root system settle in. Once mature, Ruby Spice remains thirsty and is not drought tolerant, so you must maintain regular watering during dry spells to prevent leaf scorch. Inconsistent moisture often leads to premature leaf drop or smaller, less fragrant flower spikes.

Pruning Tips

Because this shrub blooms on new wood, you should prune it in late winter or very early spring before new growth begins. Think of this like a fresh start for the season; cutting back stems by about a third encourages vigorous new shoots where the flowers will form. This timing ensures you do not accidentally chop off the current year’s flower buds.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow release fertilizer or one formulated for acid loving plants in early spring just as the buds begin to swell. Avoid using high nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer, as this pushes soft new growth that will not have time to harden off before the first frost. This late season surge makes the plant vulnerable to winter dieback and physical damage from freezing temperatures.

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Growing Zones 4-9

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Vivid Pink & Fragrant Blooms In Summer

Ruby Spice Summersweet, Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice', is a distinctive true pink that ranks supreme! In early to late July and into August, the plant bears vivid pink flower spikes on the current season's growth.

Being delightfully fragrant, Ruby Spice Summersweet provides a late summer treat of dozens of flowers that are arranged on upright panicles.

Uniquely hued, this lovely variety blooms longer than any other of its species. Ruby Spice Summersweet prefers full sun to partial shade, but will tolerate full shade as well as clay soil.

This species is high on the desirability list for northern gardeners, but it may need some wind protection in coldest areas.

Remarkably tolerant of a variety of conditions, including roadsides and seashores, Clethra Ruby Spice compact habit makes it good for small gardens in shrub borders and mixed in perennial borders. The plant provides glowing yellow fall foliage as well.

If necessary, the Clethra Ruby Spice can be pruned in early spring.

Water Tolerant
Full Sun, Partial Shade
Vivid Pink Flowers
Tolerates Clay Soil

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

Ruby Spice Summersweet

Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice'

Plant Sentry™

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Specifications