Summersweet 'Sixteen Candles' (Clethra alnifolia 'Sixteen Candles') is a compact, deciduous shrub that brings big late-summer impact in a small footprint. You will notice the upright, candle-like spikes of creamy white flowers in midsummer, along with a sweet fragrance that makes it a great choice near patios, paths, and other places you pass often.

This plant is especially useful where soil stays consistently moist. You can use it in rain gardens, along stream edges, at pond margins, or anywhere you want a flowering shrub that handles medium to wet conditions. It is also a reliable choice in mixed shrub borders and woodland-style plantings, and it can still flower well in lighter shade.

Give it full sun to part shade for the best performance, and water during extended dry spells so the root zone does not dry out. A layer of mulch helps keep moisture even and keeps roots cooler. Once established, it is an easy-care shrub that rewards you with summer blooms when many shrubs are finished for the season.

Prune, if needed, in late winter before new growth begins. If you want to keep the planting tidy and compact, remove any root suckers as they appear. The flowers support pollinators and can draw butterflies to your garden, and the plant's adaptable nature makes it a dependable foundation for moisture-loving landscapes.

Specifications

• Cold hardiness zone: 4-9 (-30 degrees F) - Contact your local extension to confirm hardiness if you are in a fringe zone (we cannot guarantee hardiness in fringe zones)
• Light: Full sun   Part sun
• Mature height: 48-60"
• Spread: 24-36"
• Tolerant of: Wet Conditions
• Attracts: Butterflies
• Fragrant: Yes
• Native to the U.S.: Yes

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