Few native shrubs are as versatile and fragrant as Clethra alnifolia, commonly called Sweet Pepperbush or Summersweet. Introduced into cultivation in the early 1700s by American botanists, Clethra alnifolia was also planted at Monticello by Thomas Jefferson in the 1750s. While the popularity of Clethra alnifolia has steadily grown through the centuries, its reputation is skyrocketing now as more gardeners appreciate it as a pretty, scented, compact, and low-maintenance flo

Realization is widely growing that planting native is essential to support our ecosystems. While a number of conservation groups began incorporating and promoting natives 15-20 years ago, now many digital influencers and mainstream news are also promoting native plants. As you may have heard me say, gardening and landscaping with native plants is not at all a new concept. In the spirit of America's 250th Anniversary, I'd like to share a story to illustrate this.

We've significantly improved our plant list web page, enhancing it with photos, growing conditions, and typical plant characteristics to help you learn about and choose native plants.