It's Not Too Late - The Shrub You Can Plant Now For More Flowers (& Pollinators) In The Summer

As autumn leaves fall, not everyone is thinking about next year's plants, but this may be a mistake. It might not be too late to add perennials, trees, and shrubs to your yard now for more flowers next summer. If you have moist growing conditions and love fragrant blooms, there's one bush in particular you'll want to consider — summersweet (Clethra alnifolia). Plant this deciduous shrub in the fall, and you'll be happy you did when the balmy days return. As a native to the eastern and southern U.S., summersweet is a sweet-smelling shrub that attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators. It can grow up to 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide, and is one of the few shrubs that can bloom in shaded conditions, making it a great option for a foundation plant on the shady side of your house.

Summersweet — also known as sweet pepperbush – is also the perfect low-maintenance alternative to hydrangeas. This native plant bears showy spikes of fragrant, white or pink flowers in July and August that are loved by bees and butterflies. In addition to providing food for pollinators during the warmer months, this plant nourishes birds over the winter with its seeds and provides lovely fall color. This is an adaptable plant you can grow in many different conditions for a profusion of blooms that you'll love, and now may not be too late to add it to your yard. If you're thinking of planting it this fall, make sure you live in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 9.

If you want to plant this shrub now to enjoy its flowers in next summer's landscape, you can locate it either in full sun or part shade. You just want to avoid subjecting it to hot, dry conditions. In fact, the shade tolerance of this plant will allow you to grow more flowers for pollinators in those spots in your yard where other plants might struggle to bloom. Summersweet is also adapted to many different soil types, as long as the soil is moist and drains well. Just take care not to plant it too late in autumn — just like other perennials, it should be transplanted six weeks before your first hard frost to give it time to get established before winter weather arrives.

Depending on your location, it may not be too late to plant this gorgeous species in your garden, and there are so many ways you can use it in your yard. You can plant it in a rain garden where its glossy, green leaves will serve as a lovely backdrop for its pollinator-friendly flowers, or include it in a privacy screen where its golden and copper foliage will add seasonal beauty in the fall. You can also grow summersweet to replace invasive honeysuckle for a garden that's easier to maintain. This deer-resistant shrub can even be used to prevent erosion along creeks, streams, and rivers.