{"product_id":"hummingbird-summersweet","title":"Hummingbird Summersweet","description":"\u003ch1\u003eFragrant Late-Summer Blooms for Shady, Wet Spots\u003c\/h1\u003e\u003cp\u003eHummingbird Summersweet (\u003cem\u003eClethra alnifolia\u003c\/em\u003e 'Hummingbird') is the compact, honey-scented shrub that finally solves the tricky corner of the yard most plants hate: damp, shady, and overlooked. When midsummer heat has most flowering shrubs finished for the year, Hummingbird erupts in dense, bottlebrush spikes of pure white that perfume the whole garden and pull in butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. It's a dependable, native-derived performer for Edina, Maple Grove, and Woodbury landscapes that want fragrance and pollinator action without fussy care.\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 'Hummingbird'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2–3 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\u003eHummingbird shines in rain gardens, along downspouts and pond edges, and in shaded foundation beds where its compact mound stays tidy. Mass it for a fragrant low hedge, tuck it under high-canopy trees, or pair it with ferns and hostas for a cool, woodland feel. Fall brings clear golden-yellow foliage for a late-season bonus.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlant in spring through early fall. Minnesota's cool, moist spring gives roots a strong start, while a planting at least six weeks before the first hard frost lets it settle in for 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. Loosen the roots, set the crown level with the soil surface, backfill, and water thoroughly. Mulch 2–3 inches deep, keeping it off the stems, to lock in the moisture this shrub loves.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWatering\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFirst Year:\u003c\/strong\u003e Water deeply 2–3 times per week. Summersweet genuinely prefers consistently moist soil, so don't let it dry out.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAfter Year One:\u003c\/strong\u003e Water weekly, more in heat. It tolerates wet feet far better than drought.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDrip Irrigation:\u003c\/strong\u003e A drip line or soaker hose is ideal for keeping the root zone evenly moist through summer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs Hummingbird Summersweet hardy in Minnesota?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. It's rated to Zone 3 and is one of the most reliably hardy fragrant shrubs you can plant here.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it grow in shade?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt does. Full sun gives the heaviest bloom, but it flowers well in part shade and tolerates fairly dense shade better than most flowering shrubs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it deer resistant?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, deer generally leave Summersweet alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it really attract pollinators?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eVery much so. The fragrant blooms are a magnet for butterflies, native bees, and hummingbirds in late summer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePair Hummingbird Summersweet with our other shade- and moisture-loving shrubs for a layered rain garden, or browse our full Summersweet collection for pink and full-size varieties.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Hummingbird Summersweet Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a fragrant low hedge or rain-garden mass, space Hummingbird about 2.5 feet apart (it matures 2–3 feet wide):\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRun Length\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePlants Needed\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e13\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn rain gardens and under high-canopy trees, plant drifts of 3–5 at the same spacing — massed plants amplify the late-summer perfume. A single shrub works in a small damp foundation pocket with a 3-foot circle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHummingbird Summersweet Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e One of the later shrubs to leaf out — don't panic in May; glossy deep-green foliage fills in by early June.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e The main event — dense white bottlebrush spikes in July–August, honey-scented and swarming with butterflies, native bees, and hummingbirds when little else is blooming.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Foliage turns a clear golden-yellow, glowing in shady corners; seed capsules form along the spent spikes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tidy twiggy mound with persistent seed-capsule spikes that catch snow; fully hardy to zone 3 with no protection needed.\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 full-size summersweet the body points to; layer it behind Hummingbird for a two-tone fragrant drift.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/vanilla-spice-summersweet\"\u003eVanilla Spice Summersweet\u003c\/a\u003e — extra-large white flower spikes on a taller frame for the back of the same damp bed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/first-editions-fiber-optics-buttonbush\"\u003eFiber Optics Buttonbush\u003c\/a\u003e — native wet-soil pollinator shrub whose globe blooms overlap Hummingbird's spikes in midsummer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/ground-hug-aronia\"\u003eGround Hug Aronia\u003c\/a\u003e — a native groundcover layer for the rain-garden floor in front, with glossy foliage and red fall color.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Hummingbird Summersweet Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHummingbird thrives where most flowering shrubs fail — damp clay, downspout zones, pond edges, and part to fairly dense shade — and deer leave it alone while pollinators flock to it. It's not a fit for hot, dry, sandy spots: it tolerates wet feet far better than drought, and it will sulk without consistent moisture.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#2 Gallon","offer_id":54307310403889,"sku":null,"price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"#5 Gallon","offer_id":54307310436657,"sku":null,"price":31.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/hummingbird-summersweet.jpg?v=1779567572","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/hummingbird-summersweet","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}