Clethra barbinervis, also called Japanese clethra is an under utilized tree for the landscape. Clethra alnifolia is the shrub form of the species. It is also called sweet pepper, or summer sweet.
Clethra barbinervis grows from 15 to 25 feet and flowers from mid-June to frost. The flowers have a sweet smell, especially after a rain. Aside from its flowers, it has a lovely bark with splotches of tan and pink colors. .
There are single trunked or multiple trunked versions of this tree. I would make an excellent choice for the landscape on its own or in a grouping.
Clethra barbinervis does not need to be pruned and it is not prone to diseases. It is Winter hardy to
-5 F (Zone 6b) but once established it can survive temperatures to -10F (Zone 6a). It helps to have the tree situated in a sheltered area in colder climates.
There is another tree form of the species called Clethra acuminata (also called mountain pepperbush). The bark of this species is similar to river birch (Betula nigra) with peeling sections of bark.

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