How to Grow Hummingbird Summersweet Shrub - Plant Care & Tips

By NorwichGardener Team   /   2025

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.

How to Grow Hummingbird Summersweet Shrub - Plant Care & Tips

Also called

  • Pink Spirea
  • Summer Snowflake
  • Snow Princess
  • ICEBERG
  • Silver Spirea

Common Knowledge

  • Hummingbird summersweet shrub is a deciduous shrub that is native to North America.
  • It grows to a height of 3-6 feet and has dark green leaves.
  • The shrub blooms in late summer to early fall, with clusters of small, fragrant, white flowers.
  • The flowers attract hummingbirds, hence the name.
  • The shrub is relatively easy to care for and is tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions.
  • It can be propagated from cuttings or by division of the rootball.
  • Hummingbird summersweet shrub is resistant to deer and rabbits.
  • It is also resistant to a number of diseases, making it a low-maintenance plant.
  • The shrub can be used in a range of landscaping applications, including as an accent plant or in mass plantings.
  • Hummingbird summersweet shrub is an excellent choice for gardeners looking for a low-maintenance plant that will provide interest and attract wildlife.

Related plant:
Clethra Alnifolia Hummingbird

Growing Steps

  1. For hummingbird summersweet shrub, first step is to find a sunny spot in your yard that has well-drained soil.
  2. Next, dig a hole that is twice the width and depth of the root ball of your plant.
  3. After that, mix some compost into the hole.
  4. Then, place the root ball of your plant into the hole and backfill with soil.
  5. Tamp down the soil gently.
  6. Next, water your plant well.
  7. Mulch around the base of your plant to help retain moisture.
  8. Fertilize your plant in early spring and mid-summer.
  9. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms.
  10. Finally, prune your plant in late winter to shape it as desired.

Related plant:
Hummingbird Bush Plant

The Soil

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.

Light condition

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

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.

Humidity Aspect

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.

Fertilizing

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.

Plant Pruning

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.

Plant Propagation

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.

Plant 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.

The Problems

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.

Growing Tips

  • Make sure to plant your hummingbird summersweet shrub in an area that gets plenty of sunlight.
  • Water your shrub regularly, especially during the hotter months.
  • Fertilize your plant every few months using a high-quality fertilizer.
  • Prune your shrub regularly to encourage new growth.
  • Keep an eye out for pests and diseases, and treat them promptly if found.
  • If you live in an area with severe winters, consider covering your shrub with a burlap cloth or similar material to protect it from the cold.
  • Take care not to over-water your plant, as this can lead to root rot.
  • When transplanting your shrub, make sure to loosen the roots before replanting.
  • Be sure to plant your shrub at the correct depth, as planting it too deeply can cause it to rot.
  • When harvesting the flowers

Related Plants

  • Summersweet clethra (Clethra alnifolia), shrub, flowering shrub
  • Bitterbush clethra (Clethra acuminata), shrub
  • Staggerbush clethra (Clethra pauciflora), shrub
  • Clethra lindleyi, shrub
  • Clethra umbellata, shrub
  • Clethra petiolata, shrub
  • Clethra arborea, shrub
  • Clethra alba, shrub
  • Hummingbird plant (Centaurium pulchellum), flowering herbaceous plant
  • Hummingbird bush (Scaevola plumieri), shrub, flowering shrub

Source:
Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird' pp 8984 - Hummingbird Summersweet
Summersweet Clethra (Clethra alnifolia)-Hort Answers
Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird' Hummingbird summersweet clethra

Richelle Author Photo
Reviewed & Published by Richelle
Submitted by our contributor
Herbs Category