summersweet clethra Clethraceae Clethra alnifolia L.   symbol: CLAL3
	Leaf: Alternate, simple, finely serrated margin, obovate, 2 to 3 1/2 inches long, glabrous, shiny dark green above, paler below. Flower: Small white flowers occurring in dense clusters on long 3 to 6 inch terminal spikes, appearing in mid to late summer. Fruit: Brown dry capsules, occurring in long clusters, persistent through the winter. Twig: Slender and scruffy brown; buds with loose scales, the terminal is much larger than the laterals; leaf scar with one bundle scar. Bark: Grayish, eventually separating into loose strips. Form: Dense shrub up to 10 feet tall, often root suckers to form thickets.
	No range map exists for this species. See a map of the states in which Clethra alnifolia can be found (opens a new window). USDAFS Additional Silvics - USDA Plants Database Clethra alnifolia is native to North America.