Bearing an abundance of  upright spikes covered in fragrant, clove-scented creamy white flowers for up to six weeks during the hottest part of summer, and a favorite of hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinating insects, Hummingbird Clethra, commonly called Summersweet, is an exceptionally versatile, hardy and easy-to-grow North American native shrub. The bright flowers stand out beautifully against the glossy, oval-shaped dark green leaves that turn yellow in fall. More compact than the species, Hummingbird grows to only 2 to 3 feet in height with an equal spread. As with other Clethra, this one will tolerate boggy soils but also adapts well to drier conditions. In consistently moist soils it will spread by stolons to form a colony. Grows well in full sun or shade.