Clethra tomentosa Lam.
Clethra alnifolia L.
Sweet pepperbush, coastal sweetpepperbush
Sweet pepperbush is native to the temperate regions of eastern North America. Pepperbush has no relation to peppercorns or peppers, but its seed capsules resemble peppercorns.
Plants: This deciduous woody shrub, 5–8′ (1.5–2.4 m) tall and 4–6′ (1.2–1.8 m) around, has multiple stems, is most often found near fresh water in areas that are at least seasonally wet. The shrubs form densely packed colonies.
Leaves: Leaves are dense, alternate, 1½–4″ (3.8–10 cm) long and 1–2″ (2.5–5 cm) wide. The leaves have a prominent vein structure and serrated edges, and are usually shaped like ovals with pointed ends. In the fall, they are yellow-green to yellow-brown.
Flowers: The pleasant-smelling flowers are white to pink, in narrow cone-like clusters 4 ⨉ ¾″ (10 ⨉ 1.9 cm). Individual flowers are ⅛–⅜″ (5–10 mm) around.
Fruits: In the fall, the flowerheads are filled with small oval seed capsules that persist through the winter. Each capsule has three sections.
Habitats: Wetlands, freshwater shores, bogs and woodland streams.
See also these cultivated varieties, 'Hummingbird', and 'Ruby Spice'.Online References:
Clethra alnifolia L. var. tomentosa (Lam.) Michx.
Clethra tomentosa Lam.
Clethra tomentosa Lam.
7/20/2012 · J. Harry Rich Dirt Road, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 3½ × 5″ (9.2 × 13 cm) 
(Probably a cultivar) · 8/27/2021 · Harpswell Historic Park, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (16 × 11 cm) 
9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 6″ (11 × 14 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
8/13/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Management Area, Groton, Shirley, & Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 3½ × 3½″ (9.8 × 9.2 cm) 
9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 4 × 3″ (10 × 8.3 cm) ID is uncertain 
8/4/2013 · Barry’s, Acton, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 19 cm) 
8/12/2009 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 15 cm) 
9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain 
8/12/2009 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 4″ (13 × 10 cm) 
8/13/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Management Area, Groton, Shirley, & Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 4″ (12 × 10 cm) 
9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 3½ × 5″ (9.2 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain 
7/20/2012 · J. Harry Rich Dirt Road, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 14 × 9″ (35 × 23 cm) 
9/7/2010 · New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, Boylston, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 7″ (22 × 18 cm) 
8/13/2017 · Burges Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 15 cm) 
9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 2½ × 3½″ (6.6 × 9.8 cm) ID is uncertain 
(Probably a cultivar) · 8/27/2021 · Harpswell Historic Park, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 16 cm) 
8/12/2009 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 6″ (18 × 14 cm) 
8/13/2017 · Burges Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm) 
9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 19 cm) ID is uncertain 
11/22/2011 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 3 × 3½″ (7.5 × 9.5 cm) ID is uncertain 
9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 19 cm) ID is uncertain 
9/21/2010 · Unquetynasset Brook, Nashua River Rail Trail, Dunstable, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm) 
9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 15 cm) ID is uncertain 
7/20/2012 · J. Harry Rich Dirt Road, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 3½ × 5″ (9.2 × 13 cm) 
8/13/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Management Area, Groton, Shirley, & Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 5″ (16 × 13 cm) 
7/20/2012 · J. Harry Rich Dirt Road, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm) 
8/13/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Management Area, Groton, Shirley, & Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 4 × 3½″ (10 × 9.2 cm) 
8/13/2017 · Burges Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 4 × 6″ (11 × 15 cm) 
9/21/2010 · Unquetynasset Brook, Nashua River Rail Trail, Dunstable, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm) 
8/4/2013 · Barry’s, Acton, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 19 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Asteridae | A large class that encompasses asters |
| Order | Ericales | Tea, persimmon, blueberry, Brazil nut, azalea, many others |
| Family | Clethraceae | Clethra (white alder) family |
| Genus | Clethra | From Greek word for alder, which has similar leaves |
| Species | alnifolia | With leaves like the genus Alnus |
Clethra alnifolia description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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