{"product_id":"crystalina-summersweet","title":"Crystalina Summersweet","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Dwarf Summersweet Packed with Fragrance\u003c\/h1\u003e\u003cp\u003eCrystalina Summersweet (\u003cem\u003eClethra alnifolia\u003c\/em\u003e 'Crystalina', sold as Sugartina) brings all the sweet, spicy perfume of classic summersweet down to a neat, knee-high package. Upright white flower spikes cover the plant in mid to late summer, filling shady, damp corners with scent at a time when little else is blooming. Compact and slow to sprawl, it's a perfect fit for smaller Eden Prairie, Plymouth, and Eagan yards and tight foundation beds.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ctable class=\"mce-item-table\"\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eClethra alnifolia\u003c\/em\u003e 'Crystalina' (Sugartina)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2.5–3 ft tall and wide\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness Zone\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 3–9 (fully hardy across Minnesota)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLight\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun to part shade; tolerates shade\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBloom Time\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMid to late summer (July–August)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFlower Color\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFragrant white spikes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMoist to wet; tolerates clay and poor drainage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eLandscape Uses\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eCrystalina's tidy, compact habit makes it ideal for rain gardens, low fragrant hedges, and shaded entry beds where you want scent up close. It pairs beautifully with hostas, astilbe, and ferns, and turns warm yellow in fall.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlant in spring through early fall. A spring planting takes advantage of Minnesota's moist soils, and planting at least six weeks before hard frost lets roots establish before winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eDig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Set the crown level with the soil, backfill, water in well, and mulch 2–3 inches deep while keeping mulch off the stems.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWatering\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFirst Year:\u003c\/strong\u003e Water deeply 2–3 times per week and never let the soil dry out completely.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAfter Year One:\u003c\/strong\u003e Water weekly, more during heat. It thrives in moisture and tolerates wet soil.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDrip Irrigation:\u003c\/strong\u003e A soaker hose or drip line keeps the root zone evenly moist all summer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow big does Crystalina get?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt stays compact at roughly 2.5–3 feet tall and wide, making it one of the smallest summersweets available.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it hardy here?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, it's rated to Zone 3 and overwinters reliably throughout Minnesota.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it bloom in shade?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. It flowers best in sun to part shade but tolerates shade better than most flowering shrubs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it deer resistant?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, deer typically avoid summersweet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eCombine Crystalina with our other compact, shade-tolerant shrubs, or explore the full Summersweet lineup for taller and pink-flowering options.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Crystalina Summersweets Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a low fragrant hedge or rain-garden mass, space plants 2.5 feet apart so the knee-high mounds knit together:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRun Length\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlants Needed (2.5 ft spacing)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2–3 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy an entry or patio where you'll catch the scent, a group of 3 spaced 2.5 feet apart is the sweet spot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCrystalina Summersweet Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Leafs out late — don't panic in May; glossy green foliage fills in by early June.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e The payoff — upright white flower spikes in July–August release a sweet, spicy perfume and hum with bees and butterflies when little else blooms in shade.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Foliage turns a warm clear yellow, bright even in part shade.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tidy, compact twig structure with small seed capsules; rated to zone 3, so it shrugs off Minnesota winters with no protection.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Pollinator-Friendly   ✔ Deer-Resistant   ✔ Rain-Garden \/ Wet-Soil   ✔ Shade-Tolerant\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/ruby-spice-summersweet\"\u003eRuby Spice Summersweet\u003c\/a\u003e — the deep-pink, taller cousin for a two-tone fragrant backdrop.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/hummingbird-summersweet\"\u003eHummingbird Summersweet\u003c\/a\u003e — another compact white selection to extend a low fragrant hedge affordably.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/vanilla-spice-summersweet\"\u003eVanilla Spice Summersweet\u003c\/a\u003e — extra-large flower spikes for the back of the same damp bed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/creme-de-mint-dogwood\"\u003eCreme de Mint Dogwood\u003c\/a\u003e — variegated foliage that brightens the same moist, part-shade corner before and after clethra bloom.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Crystalina Summersweet Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCrystalina is the answer for damp, shady spots that defeat most flowering shrubs — rain gardens, downspout beds, north-side foundations — anywhere with steady moisture and sun to part shade. Deer leave it alone and pollinators flock to it. It's not a fit for hot, dry, sandy sites: summersweet sulks without consistent moisture, so skip it where you can't water through a drought.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#2 Gallon","offer_id":54307143024945,"sku":null,"price":35.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/crystalina-summersweet.jpg?v=1779567570","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/crystalina-summersweet","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}