Sixteen Candles

Clethra alnifolia ‘Sixteen Candles’ is a compact, upright native shrub that delivers clean structure and standout summer color. Its bright white, fragrant flower spikes rise above the foliage in mid to late summer—right when most landscapes need a boost. With a tighter, more vertical habit than other clethra varieties, it’s perfect for foundation plantings, borders, and smaller spaces. ‘Sixteen Candles’ thrives in sun to part shade, handles moist or poorly drained soils with ease, and attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Low maintenance and highly versatile, it’s an excellent choice for adding fragrance and reliable performance to any landscape.

• Low Maintenance
• Attracts pollinators
• Thrives in wet soils
• Rain garden, ponds, woodlands edge, foundations, low hedge
• Deer resistant
• More upright and tighter than other Summersweet varieties
• Slow to moderate growth rate 

Height: 3-5 Feet
Spread: 2-4 Feet
Hardiness Zone: 4-9

Clethra alnifolia ‘Sixteen Candles’ Characteristics

• Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Season of Interest: Late summer to fall
  
• Soil Moisture: Wet to average soils
• Attributes: Compact, upright
• Foliage Color: Green that turns golden yellow in fall
• Care: After planting, keeping soil moist is crucial. Water deeply 1-2 times per week. Minimal pruning required- prune in Spring if needed.