Hummingbird summersweet shrub is a beautiful, fast-growing plant that is perfect for adding some extra color and life to your garden. This plant is known for its ability to attract hummingbirds, which makes it a great addition to any bird lover's garden.
Related plant:
Clethra Alnifolia Hummingbird
Related plant:
Hummingbird Bush Plant
About soil condition, the hummingbird summersweet shrub prefers well-drained soil but can also tolerate some degree of wetness. It can even grow in slightly alkaline soils. This shrub is also able to adapt to different types of soil, including clay and sand.
Like the other shrubs, the hummingbird summersweet shrub requires sun to grow properly. However, this plant is more tolerant to shady areas than most shrubs. It will still produce blooms in areas that don't get full sun, but they may not be as plentiful. If you want to get the most blooms out of your plant, give it a spot in the yard that gets at least six hours of sun each day.
The temperature condition that is best for the hummingbird summersweet shrub is warm. This shrub does not do well in cold temperatures and should be kept in a warm environment. If the temperature gets too cold, the leaves of the shrub will turn brown and die.
Ideal humidity condition for this plant is 50%. If the air is too dry, the leaves will begin to drop and the plant will become less productive. If the air is too wet, the leaves will yellow and the plant may become susceptible to fungal diseases.
Discussing fertilizer, usually the plant roots are the primary concern. Fertilizer is often applied to the roots to encourage growth. However, with the hummingbird summersweet shrub, the roots are not the primary concern. The focus is on the flowers and leaves, as these are the parts of the plant that are most attractive to hummingbirds.
Pruning your hummingbird summersweet shrub is important to maintaining its shape and preventing it from becoming overgrown. You can prune it in early spring or late fall, but be sure to avoid pruning it during the blooming season, as this will remove the flowers that the hummingbirds are attracted to. To prune your shrub, simply cut back any long or overgrown branches, being careful not to damage the plant.
Propagation : You can propagate Summersweet by taking softwood or hardwood cuttings in late spring or early summer. Hardwood cuttings should be taken from 1-year-old wood and softwood cuttings from new growth.
Usually, the plant growth rate is about average, meaning they will add about 6 inches of growth each year. Some varieties however can grow quite quickly, adding as much as 12 inches in a single growing season. When planted in the right location and given the proper care, these shrubs can live for many years and reach heights of 6 feet or more.
Common problems for this kind of plant are powdery mildew, rust, and leaf spot. These diseases can be controlled with fungicides. Insect problems include aphids, Japanese beetles, and caterpillars. These pests can be controlled with insecticides.
Source:
Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird' pp 8984 - Hummingbird Summersweet
Summersweet Clethra (Clethra alnifolia)-Hort Answers
Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird' Hummingbird summersweet clethra