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Clethra alnifolia 'Tom's Compact' (Sweet pepper bush 'Tom's Compact')
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1 hour care
per year
per year
1.2m
Max height
Max height
1.2m
Max spread
Max spread
10-20 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Clethra alnifolia 'Tom's Compact'
Other names
Sweet pepper bush 'Tom's Compact', Sweet pepperbush 'Tom's Compact', Summer sweet 'Tom's Compact', Summersweet 'Tom's Compact', Clethra alnifolia 'Compacta', Bush pepper 'Tom's Compact'
Genus
Clethra Clethra
Variety or Cultivar
'Tom's Compact' _ 'Tom's Compact' is a compact, rounded, deciduous shrub with upright stems bearing oval, toothed, glossy, dark green leaves turning yellow in autumn and dense, erect racemes of fragrant, bell-shaped, white flowers in summer.
Clethra alnifolia 'Tom's Compact' is: Deciduous
Fragrance
Flowers have a spicy fragrance.
Habit
Upright, Rounded, Dense
Flower
White in Summer
Foliage
Dark-green in Spring; Dark-green in Summer; Yellow, Orange in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free.
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Pruning
Remove some of the oldest, weakest stems from the base in winter.
Propagation methods
Softwood cuttings
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Where to grow
Clethra alnifolia 'Tom's Compact' (Sweet pepper bush 'Tom's Compact') will reach a height of 1.2m and a spread of 1.2m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Waterside, Low Maintenance, Cottage/Informal, Beds and borders, Wildlife, Woodland
Cultivation
Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained, acid soil in partial or full shade. Do not allow soil to dry out. Tolerates clay.
Soil type
Clay, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
Acid
Light
Partial Shade, Full Shade
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
Botanical name
Clethra alnifolia 'Tom's Compact'
Other names
Sweet pepper bush 'Tom's Compact', Sweet pepperbush 'Tom's Compact', Summer sweet 'Tom's Compact', Summersweet 'Tom's Compact', Clethra alnifolia 'Compacta', Bush pepper 'Tom's Compact'
Genus
Clethra Clethra
Variety or Cultivar
'Tom's Compact' _ 'Tom's Compact' is a compact, rounded, deciduous shrub with upright stems bearing oval, toothed, glossy, dark green leaves turning yellow in autumn and dense, erect racemes of fragrant, bell-shaped, white flowers in summer.
Native to
Garden origin
Foliage
Deciduous
Fragrance
Flowers have a spicy fragrance.
Habit
Upright, Rounded, Dense
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Colour
Flower
White in Summer
Foliage
Dark-green in Spring; Dark-green in Summer; Yellow, Orange in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free.
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Pruning
Remove some of the oldest, weakest stems from the base in winter.
Propagation methods
Softwood cuttings
Monthly care advice
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Where to grow
Clethra alnifolia 'Tom's Compact' (Sweet pepper bush 'Tom's Compact') will reach a height of 1.2m and a spread of 1.2m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Waterside, Low Maintenance, Cottage/Informal, Beds and borders, Wildlife, Woodland
Cultivation
Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained, acid soil in partial or full shade. Do not allow soil to dry out. Tolerates clay.
Soil type
Clay, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
Acid
Light
Partial Shade, Full Shade
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Clay, Loamy, Sandy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Shade | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | North, South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
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