Summersweet Profile for Maryland

Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) is a deciduous shrub that University of Maryland Extension identifies as native to Maryland’s Coastal Plain. The profile is regional; verify local range and nursery stock before treating it as a match elsewhere in the state.

Height is not width; allow room for suckers. The flood and brackish notes have no stated duration or salinity threshold.

Site profile

Field	Source description
Mature size	About 6–12 feet tall; dwarf cultivars are about 2–4 feet.
Light	Sun to shade.
Soil	All textures; moist to wet; acidic pH 4.5–6.5.
Water and salt	Tolerates periodic flooding, including brackish conditions. The source gives no salt concentration, flood duration, or exposure threshold.
Growth	Can produce suckers, so allow room for a spreading clump.
Wildlife	Flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds; birds use the plant. UMD labels it deer resistant, a qualitative browse note rather than a guarantee.

This profile supports consideration for acidic moist-to-wet sites, but it does not establish performance in permanent standing water or under a particular salt exposure. Compare the full mature width and sucker growth with the planting space, and check cultivar identity if a dwarf form is desired.