Ruby spice summersweet is an excellent plant for adding spice and flavor to any dish. It is a member of the mint family and has a strong flavor that is both sweet and slightly spicy. This plant is easy to grow and can be found in most nurseries or online.
Related plant:
Hydrangea Quercifolia Ruby Slippers
Related plant:
Ruby Slippers Oakleaf Hydrangea
About soil condition, ruby spice summersweet prefers well-drained soils but can also tolerate some standing water in its roots. It also does not like very sandy soils. This plant can grow in both full sun and partial shade but needs at least four hours of direct sunlight each day to produce the best results.
Like the other shrubs, the ruby spice summersweet requires sun to grow properly. Along with water and nutrients, sunlight is essential for shrub growth. The amount of sun required varies by plant species, but generally, six hours of direct sunlight is needed for optimal growth. If you live in an area with hot summers, you may need to provide shade for your shrub during the midday hours to prevent scorching.
The temperature conditions for growing Ruby Spice Summersweet are ideal. It prefers full sun to partial shade and soil that is moist but well-drained. It is tolerant of a wide range of soil types and pH levels. It will grow in sandy soil, loamy soil, or clay soil. It is also tolerant of drought and salt spray.
Ideal humidity condition for this plant is around 40-50%. This plant can tolerate some shade, but too much shade will make the leaves turn yellow. If the plant is not getting enough light, the flowers will not be as vibrant. This plant is not drought tolerant, so make sure to water it regularly during the growing season.
About fertilizer, usually the plant doesn't need that much. You can just use a very small amount of low nitrogen fertilizer when you first plant it. For the root, it's important to not damage it when you're planting. You want to be very careful when you're digging the hole and putting the plant in. Make sure not to pull on the plant too much, or it could damage the roots.
Pruning is an important part of caring for your ruby spice summersweet plant. Pruning helps to promote new growth and keep the plant healthy. When pruning, be sure to remove any dead or diseased leaves and branches. Cut back any overgrown branches to encourage new growth.
Propagation is best done in the spring or summer when the plant is actively growing. Take stem cuttings from new growth, using a sharp knife or pruners. Cuttings should be 4-6 inches long, and have at least 2-3 leaf nodes. Remove the bottom leaves, and dip the cut end in rooting hormone. Plant the cuttings in a well-drained potting mix, and keep them moist. Roots should form in 4-6 weeks. You can then transplant the rooted cuttings into individual pots or into the garden.
Usually, the plant growth rate is rapid during the first few years after planting. After that, growth slows somewhat, but the plant still adds 2 to 3 feet of height each year until it reaches full size. Flowering occurs in mid- to late summer, with masses of fragrant, deep pink flowers blooming all along the length of the stems.
Common problems for this kind of plant are canker, powdery mildew, and root rot. Canker is a fungal disease that affects the bark of the plant, causing it to crack and ooze. Powdery mildew is a white powdery fungus that grows on the leaves of the plant, causing them to yellow and drop off. Root rot is a condition caused by too much moisture around the roots of the plant, causing them to rot and die.
Source:
Ruby SPICE Wrapper - Arizona State University
RUBY SPICE WRAPPER. N. M. Estes, K. S. Bowley, V. H. Silva,
Growing Summersweet Clethra in the Home Landscape
