Clethra alnifolia 'Sixteen Candles' is a compact, upright deciduous shrub known for its upright white flower spikes and pleasant fragrance. It blooms in late summer, offering pollinator support and seasonal interest for small gardens and wet areas.
Height & Spread: 3 - 5 ft x 3 - 4 ft
Bloom Time: Mid to late summer
Light Requirements: Full sun to part shade
Soil Preference: Moist to wet, acidic soils
Watering Needs: High; prefers consistent moisture
Deer Resistance: Moderately resistant
Native Status
This cultivar originates from Clethra alnifolia, a species native to eastern North America, typically found in wet woodlands and along streambanks.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Bees
- Supports native bees including bumblebees and small carpenter bees with abundant summer nectar.
Butterflies
- Attracts butterflies such as Spicebush Swallowtail, Red Admiral, and Pearl Crescent with its fragrant upright blooms.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations
- Space 3 - 4 ft apart for mass plantings or small hedges; allow room for air flow and seasonal growth.
Landscape Placement
- Perfect for small rain gardens, foundation beds, or beneath open canopies where moisture persists and fragrance is appreciated.
Companion Plants
- Hydrangea quercifolia (Oakleaf Hydrangea) - Adds bold foliage and summer blooms with strong structural contrast.
- Sporobolus heterolepis (Prairie Dropseed) - Provides fine texture and low maintenance green mounds beneath taller shrubs.
- Monarda didyma (Bee Balm) - Brings pollinator appeal and bold color for layered wet meadow plantings.
- Amsonia tabernaemontana - Contributes soft blue spring flowers and golden fall foliage.
- Fothergilla gardenii - Offers fragrant spring blooms and fall color in similar moist acidic soil.