Green Promise Farms Clethra (Ruby Spice) 3 gal — Fragrant Reddish-Pink Flowering Shrub, 5–6 ft

Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice' is a compact, highly fragrant shrub with long-lasting reddish-pink flower spikes, delivered ready-to-plant in a 3-gallon pot from Green Promise Farms.

'Ruby Spice' is a newer selection of Clethra (summertime sweet pepperbush) chosen for its rich reddish-pink blooms that retain color as they age and for the same honeyed fragrance gardeners rely on from clethra. This cultivar fits into borders, pollinator gardens, and foundation plantings where a medium-sized, aromatic summer display is wanted. It tolerates a range of light and soil conditions common to clethra species and ships fully rooted in a trade 3-gallon container, with planting and care instructions included.

How big will 'Ruby Spice' grow and what spacing does it need?

This selection reaches approximately 5–6 feet tall and wide at maturity, forming a rounded, multi-stemmed shrub. Allow room for a natural mound shape and air circulation to reduce disease risk in humid climates.

• Mature height: 5–6 ft (1.5–1.8 m).
• Mature spread: 5–6 ft, plant on 5–8 ft centers for grouping.
• Grows as a compact, multi-stem shrub—prune lightly to shape after flowering.

What light, soil, and climate conditions does it prefer?

'Ruby Spice' performs best in USDA Zones 4–8 and is forgiving across typical landscape soils. It tolerates full sun to part shade; in hotter inland sites some afternoon shade helps preserve flower quality and leaf health.

• USDA hardiness: Zones 4–8.
• Light: full sun to part shade (morning sun ideal in hot climates).
• Soil: adapts to moist, well-drained soils; tolerates slightly wet conditions.

When does it bloom and how fragrant are the flowers?

Expect a profusion of scented flower spikes in July that attract bees and butterflies. The blooms are richly reddish-pink and retain their hue longer than many clethra varieties, giving sustained visual interest as well as notable fragrance.

• Main bloom: mid to late summer (often July).
• Flower color: deep reddish-pink that resists fading with age.
• Fragrance: strong, sweet scent typical of clethra—valuable in pollinator plantings.

How is the plant shipped and what care is needed on arrival?

Your plant ships from Green Promise Farms in a 3-gallon trade pot, rooted in nursery soil and ready to plant when weather permits. Avoid planting in frozen ground or severe drought; detailed planting and care instructions are included with the shipment.

• Container: 3-gallon trade pot, fully rooted and ready to plant.
• Do not plant in frigid winter or during extreme drought conditions.
• Ships with planting and aftercare guidance from the nursery.

Who is this for? Green Promise Farms Clethra 'Ruby Spice' is suited to gardeners seeking a scented, medium-sized shrub for mixed borders, pollinator-friendly beds, or foundation plantings in Zones 4–8. Choose 'Ruby Spice' if you want long-lasting, richly colored summer flowers, a pronounced fragrance to elevate outdoor spaces, and a plant that adapts to sun or light shade while providing seasonal interest with minimal fuss.