Alternate name: Coastal Sweet Pepperbush, Summer Sweet

Family: Clethraceae, Clethra view all from this family

Description A tall, many-branched, leafy shrub with spike-like, upright clusters of fragrant white flowers.
Flowers: each about 1/3" (8 mm) wide; stamens 10, style protruding.
Leaves: up to 3" (7.5 cm) long; wedge-shaped, sharply toothed above the middle, untoothed at the base, blunt or broadly pointed at tip.
Fruit: small, globular capsules with persistent style.
Height: 3-10' (90-300 cm).
Flowering: July-September.

Habitat Wetlands, especially swamps, and sandy woods.

Range Coastal, from southern Maine south to Florida; west to eastern Texas.

Discussion This shrub forms sizable patches. Its dry fruiting capsules remain long after flowering and help identify this plant in winter. Mountain Pepperbush (C. acuminata) has more pointed leaves and is found in southern mountains.