Clethra alnifolia Creels Calico - Sweet pepperbush

The Clethra alnifolia Creels Calico is a variety of Sweet Pepperbush that is very unique and highly desirable. Its green foliage speckled with white makes it highly ornamental throughout spring and summer, and in autumn, it takes on a golden hue that transforms its appearance. This bushy shrub, which may slightly sucker, also produces beautiful clusters of fragrant white flowers in late summer, a time when flowering shrubs are scarce. Clethra plants thrive in humus-bearing, non-calcareous, moist to wet soils. They enjoy the same conditions as heather plants and can be seamlessly integrated into heather beds to create beautiful combinations.

Clethra alnifolia is a deciduous shrub with semi-suckering roots, native to humid forests and marshy areas in the eastern United States. It can be found from southern Maine to eastern Texas. In the wild, it forms small thickets that can reach 3m in all directions. It is very hardy, tolerating temperatures as low as -20°C. It is one of only two genera in the relatively unknown Clethraceae family, which is named after it, the other being the tropical Purdiaea.
The 'Creels Calico' cultivar forms a relatively compact bush that does not exceed 1.50m in all directions. It has obovate, glabrous, toothed leaves that are 5-10cm long and alternate along flexible, green branches. The leaves are numerous and have short petioles, with new shoots appearing at their axils, especially in the upper part of the plant, giving it a very bushy appearance. The foliage is mottled with cream-white in an irregular pattern, varying from leaf to leaf. Some leaf blades remain predominantly green, while others are heavily splashed with white, and a few have a mix of entirely green and predominantly white areas. This random variegation gives this horticultural variety a bright and easily identifiable appearance. Like the botanical species, the foliage turns golden yellow with light brown spots in autumn, once again illuminating the garden.
In late July, clusters of 10-15cm long flower spikes appear, composed of several dozen small white flowers, reminiscent of those of certain Ericaceae, such as the Oxydendron arboreum. This is no coincidence, as Clethraceae are also part of the order Ericales... Emitting a sweet fragrance, these bell-shaped flowers, with their unfused petals, are appreciated by bees and pollinators. The flowers are followed by small round fruits, arranged in slender clusters, which remain decorative on the branches throughout winter if they are not eaten by birds. These fruits, which somewhat resemble peppercorns, have earned this shrub the name 'sweet pepperbush' in the United States.
This shrub is hardy to approximately -20°C and thrives in cool climates when exposed to full sun, while it prefers partial shade elsewhere, as it does not tolerate dryness, either atmospheric or in the soil. It requires a neutral to acidic, humus-rich, light soil that does not dry out.

The Clethra alnifolia Creels Calico is ideal for brightening up a shaded area in the garden. It pairs perfectly with heather plants, sharing their requirements. You can also combine it with numerous Rhododendrons, whose spring blooms will allow you to enjoy flowers for a longer period of time. The Mountain Laurel, or Kalmia, which is unjustly underplanted, will provide beautiful campanulate flower clusters in May and June. The Hydrangeas, with their variety of inflorescence shapes, such as panicles, flat or round heads, and diverse colours, will accompany and even extend the flowering season of the Clethra. To brighten up the end of the year, succumb to the charm of the Camellia sasanqua Yuletide, an autumn Camellia with magnificent red flowers and yellow centres. And to start the winter beautifully and enjoy flowers all year round, plant a Hamamelis intermedia Arnold Promise, or Witch Hazel, in the background. Its bright yellow filaments will bring joy to your flower bed during the dark days of January and February.