'Crystalina', is a summersweet cultivar shrub in the Clethraceae family commonly sold under the trade name of SUGARTINA. It was bred at North Carolina State University. Growing 2-3 feet tall and 3-5 feet wide, this cultivar tolerates wet soil in full sun to shade but does best in light, dappled shade. Plant in consistently moist, acidic, sandy to clay soils. It is moderately salt tolerant. Prune in late winter as blooming occurs on the current year's growth. The fragrant white flowers appear in narrow clusters resembling a bottle brush in July and August providing late summer color. The leaves have a yellow fall color. Use this shrub in the border, as a foundation plant, along streams and ponds or in a woodland garden. Plant it near the patio to enjoy the fragrance. Insects, Diseases and Other Problems: In hot or dry conditions, the plant is susceptible to damage caused by spider mites, which can be severe. More information on Clethra alnifolia .
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) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Multi-stemmed; Rounded
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Oblong; Obovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Alternate, simple, glossy, sharply serrated medium to deep green leaves; 1½ to 4 inches long; often woolly or tomentose below; it is late to leaf out in spring and has outstanding pale yellow to golden-brown fall color.
Fall color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow
Flower color
White
Flower value
Fragrant; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Panicle; Raceme
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Showy and fragrant, lasting up to 6 weeks during the middle of summer when other flowering shrubs are not blooming due to heat. Intense spicy fragrant, white, long, floriferous racemes, formed by up to 100 individual flowers. Flowering occurs on the current season's growth. er.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Black; Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long
Fruit detail
Black, peppercorn-like capsules which persist throughout winter.
Bark color
Dark Gray
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Southeastern United States
Distribution
North Carolina south to Florida and west to Texas.
Wildlife value
Fowers and nectar are very attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Many birds and mammals eat the fruit and aid in seed dispersal. Deer will eat it only when other forage vegetation is limited.