Sweet Pepperbush
Clethra alnifolia
Sweet pepperbush is a tall, aggressive native shrub that inhabits acidic moist woods and pond shores and usually forms extensive
colonies. Its white flowers appear in late July and keep wafting their pungent, spicy-sweet aroma till the end of August.
The flowers are visited by a variety of bees (for pollen and butter) and flies (for nectar). The name "pepperbush" refers
to the vague resemblance of the fruits to peppercorns. The fruits, three-valved capsules containing numerous small seeds,
are long-lasting, remaining on branches at the time when the new generation of flowers and even new fruits appear. Persistent
fruits provide us a reliable hint about the identity of this shrub all year round. Sweet pepperbush is by far the most common
shrub of moist habitats in eastern Massachusetts, yet, interestingly, its range does not include western MA, so it is completely
absent there. Cultivars (horticultural varieties) of this shrub available at nurseries are more compact than the straight
species.
Myles Standish SF, Plymouth, August 19
Myles Standish SF, Plymouth, August 16
Tidmarsh Sanctuary, Plymouth, March 10