Chinese clethra is a deciduous shrub in the Clethraceae family native to China in woodlands and mountainous regions between 4000 and 7000 feet. It grows to 10 feet in height with a 6 foot spread when mature. Chinese clethra prefers partial shade, moist, organically rich, acidic, lime-free, and well-drained soil and does not tolerate dry summer heat and drought. The plant can be easily propagated from stem cuttings and suckers will tend to form colonies, making it an excellent hedge. Prune in late winter as it flowers on new growth. It features a smooth, marbled brown to cinnamon bark that peels and delicate, heavily fragrant, flowers. The numerous white flowers on 5 to 7-inch panicles blossom in mid to late summer when other shrubs are not. The flowers contain high-quality nectar and pollen that attract butterflies and bees. The plant has sharply serrated, lustrous, and dark green leaves that produce a bronze-red to maroon fall color. The plant will provide 3 seasons of interest. Use in the border or small groups, as a specimen, in the woodland garden and along ponds and streams. Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. If sited in dry or hot locations, it can be susceptible to spider mites.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
3 feet-6 feet; 6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Oval; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Sharply serrated, simple, lustrous dark green leaves that are 2 to 5 inches long and 1- 1.75 inches wide, clustered at ends of branches and bronze-red to maroon in the fall. They are oval-lanceolate, tapered to point with a wedge-shaped or rounded base and toothed margins. Undersides have downy hairs
Fall color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Panicle; Raceme
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Numerous 1/4th inch white flowers on 5 to 7 inch panicle in mid to late summer.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Dry capsule splits to reveal seeds
Bark color
Dark Brown; Light Brown; Red/Burgundy
Bark detail
Smooth, polished brown to cinnamon bark, exfoliating.