Knowledgebase

Plant ID? #939373

Asked July 15, 2026, 12:30 PM EDT

My sister-in-law saw this plant in Annapolis and was hoping to identify it. Thanks!

Worcester County Maryland

Expert Response

This looks like Summersweet (botanical name Clethra alnifolia), a locally-native deciduous shrub that produces fragrant flowers in midsummer. Pink-flowered forms are cultivars (the wild type is white), and this one is probably the cultivar 'Ruby Spice,' which is the most common pink (and also one of the darkest-colored) available at nurseries.

Miri
Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied July 15, 2026, 1:47 PM EDT
Thanks so much!!

On Wed, Jul 15, 2026, 1:47 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied July 15, 2026, 2:00 PM EDT
You're welcome!
Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied July 15, 2026, 3:05 PM EDT

Loading ...