It is often hard to find shrubs that flower in the summer—and even better yet, shrubs that flower well in the shade—but summersweet clethra (Clethra alnifolia) fits the bill for both. Clethra is native along the coast from Maine to Florida and around the peninsula to Texas.

Characteristics of Clethra : Ruby Spice

- Flowers actually come in two flavors: white and pink. ‘Ruby Spice’ is one of the best pink-flowered cultivars for Arkansas.
- Ruby Spice has bottlebrushlike clusters of tiny, fragrant, bell-shaped, reddish-pink flowers that appear in late summer.
- This shade-loving native shrub a favorite of bees and butterflies.
- It is a wonderful addition to the border or woodland edge.
- Ruby Spice Summersweet features beautiful spikes of fragrant ruby red flowers rising above the foliage from mid to late summer, which are most effective when planted in groupings.
- Ruby Spice Summersweet is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a shapely oval form.
- Ruby Spice Summersweet will grow to be about 5 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet.
- It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.
- Plants are typically not dense, and they have a distinctive soft texture due to the fine twigs and leaves.
- Clethra does not appear to be susceptible to any serious disease or insect problem. Plants can be pruned in early spring, since flowers are born on new growth.
- On cool nights when the windows are open. The scent from the ruby spice fills the room.

How to sow/plant Clethra : Ruby Spice

- Purchase ruby spice in early spring. The ruby spice summersweet grows in zone 3-9.
- Plant your shrub in moist, slightly acidic sandy soil.
- This shrub grows best in an area that has sun and partial shade.
- Dig a hole the same depth of the nursery container. Allow two feet in width. Loosen the soil in the bottom of the hole. Mix organic compost or manure with the soil.
- Place the root ball in the middle of the hole.
- Apply three inches of mulch around the shrub. The mulch will help retain moisture and will prevent weed build up.
- Maintain uniform soil moisture the first season.
- Each spring before growth begins, apply an all-purpose fertilizer, following label directions.

PLANTING INFO …

- Grows to about 6 feet
- Flowers: Rosy Pink flowers in Summer
- Fall color: Yellow
- Light requirements: Some shade or full sun
- Cold hardy to zone 3 (zones 3-9)
- Easy to grow, Summersweet
- Latin name: Clethra Alnifolia Ruby Spice

The ‘Lantana Camara’ is a shrub that has some small, and beautiful looking flowers that attracts both human visitors and butterflies (just keep the dogs, pets and small children away from the plant since contact with the plant has a certain amount of toxicity inherent in it). It looks beautiful as part of gardens, hanging containers and does not require much maintenance. The only problem with it in warmer locations is that it can be terribly invasive. Here are more details about this plant:

Common Lantana is a rugged evergreen shrub originally from the tropical areas of the world. Lantana will grow to a height of around 6 ft (1.8 m) and may spread in a bush type growth to 8 ft (2.4 m) in width. Some varieties are able to clamber vinelike up supports to greater heights with the help of supports. The leaves of Cantana are 2-5 in (5-12.7 cm) long by 1-2 in (2.5-5 cm) wide having rounded tooth edges. The leaves have a textured surface. Lantana is valued for a long season of bloom, with flowers existing for many months.

Hardiness: Grow in USDA Zones 8-11. Lantana is happy to be in a climate of both humid and dry heat. Lantana is frost-sensitive, so plant outdoors after the ground has warmed thoroughly. Space the plants about 18 inches apart. This tropical plant is killed back to the ground at 28 ºF (-2.2 ºC) but will grow back from the roots when warm weather returns and is very tenacious.

When it is killed to the ground by frost and then recovers when the weather warms, Lantana blooms in summer and fall. The color of the flowers ranges from white to yellow, orange to red, pink to rose in many combinations, with the flowers usually changing in color as they age. To get a good display, put the plant in a hanging basket when its flowers bloom into these many shades of color. Lantanas are most often used in containers. They grow well in sunny window boxes, hanging baskets, or patio planters.

Lantana is very easy to grow and will adapt to most soil types. Too much water and fertilizer will reduce bloom, and is to be avoided.

Moisture: Newly planted lantanas will need to be kept moist for the first few weeks until the roots have spread into the surrounding soil. Well drained soil is preferred. Lantana is very drought resistant.

Lantana requires little fertilizer. Feed your plant every 2 weeks with a houseplant variety fertilizer. Keep feeding as long as buds keep developing.

Prune lantana periodically during summer by lightly shearing the tip growth to encourage repeat blooming. Plants that have become too large for their allotted space may be pruned back by up to a third of their height and spread, and you can be assured of a good bloom.

Dangers:
Lantana is an invasive exotic species causing problems in many countries such as Australia and India, being capable of disrupting the health of natural species.
Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested.
Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction.
Dangerous to pets such as dogs.

Lantana should be propagated in mid-summer from stem cuttings. Make cuttings from the shoots that are non-flowering (around 3 inches long). Strip off any leaves from the lower part of the cutting, and then immerse the ends in a hormone rooting medium. Once done, insert in a container having moist, well drained, soil made of peat moss and sand. Cover the container with a clear plastic bag and keep in a spot with bright filtered light. After rooting, which takes around 2-3 weeks, and you see new growth emerging, take your container into brighter light and do light fertilization every 2-3 weeks. In the spring, move into individual pots or in the ground.

The species name “greggii” was named for Josiah Gregg, (1806-1850). He was born in Overton County, Tennessee. In the summer of 1841 and again in the winter of 1841-42 he traveled through Texas, up the Red River valley, and later from Galveston to Austin and by way of Nacogdoches to Arkansas. He cataloged a number of species, and his name was given to a number of different species.
This native of Texas and Mexico has a woody base and forms a nice mounding shrub up to 4 ft (1.2 m) tall by 2 ft (0.6 m) wide with slender new herbaceous shoots. Most of the branches originate near the base of the plant, giving a vase-shaped appearance.
The flowers are made up of two lips: the upper one forms a hood over whiskery stamens and the lower lip, which itself is wide and toothed. Butterflies and hummingbirds love them.
The leaves are leathery and small, adaptations that probably help prevent moisture loss in its dry native climate. Autumn sage is usually evergreen, but a hard freeze may cause it to die to the ground, usually to reemerge in spring from the larger branches at the base of the plant. It has great heat and drought tolerance but only flowers well during more congenial weather.
Too much fertilizer and moisture will kill autumn sage. Do not plant where regular lawn fertilization and irrigation will bother it. After the spring bloom, trim off 1/3 off the top, and again in late summer. Avoid planting it near heavy foot traffic because the stems are very brittle.
Light: Full sun to part shade; can take extreme sun and heat.
Moisture: Autumn sage is very drought tolerant. It can take prolonged dry periods once established. Autumn sage requires well-drained soil.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 7 – 9.

Planting Instructions:
1. Dig a hole 2 times the width and 1 and 1/2 times the height of the container.
2. Set rootball at ground level.
3. Prepare a good soil mix.
4. Backfill with amended soil.
5. Water.

Propagation: Most easily grown from softwood or semi-hardwood tip cuttings. Application of a rooting hormone improves rooting. Rooting should occur in three weeks. Also propagated by root layering or from fresh, untreated seed sown in fall or winter.

Sometimes referred to as the cotton rose, the Confederate rose is a unique Chinese shrub that is found throughout the southeastern United States. The unique popular name for the Confederate rose is based on the fact that the general area where this beautiful shrub is grown roughly corresponds to the section of the USA that once seceded from the Union and was known as the Confederate States of America.
The confederate rose is a large shrub or small multistemmed tree that grows to 15 ft (4.6 m) high with about a 10 ft (3 m) spread. Dropping its leaves in winter the shrub’s slender stems seem to disappear among neighboring plants until midsummer, when it leafs out into a big bushy mass. Hibiscus mutabilis is downright conspicuous when in full bloom starting in late summer and on into fall. The flowers open pure white and change color over a three-day period until they are deep pink and then as they die assume a dark “blue-pink” hue.
Bloom season usually lasts from summer through fall. Propagation by cuttings root easiest in early spring, but cuttings can be taken at almost any time. When it does not freeze, the Confederate rose can reach heights of 12 to 15 feet with a woody trunk; however, a multi-trunk bush 6 to 8 feet tall is more typical. It is killed back to the ground with the first hard freeze, only to re-grow the following spring, sending up even more stems than the previous season.
The plant tends to grow best in sections of the landscape that receive direct sunlight or no more than partial shade. The soil should be rich in nutrients and minerals. This shrub thrives on regular watering but this is optional as it is very drought tolerant. This shrub truly takes care of itself and is adaptable to most locations and soil conditions. The tree is at its best when it has been allowed to grow with minimal pruning into a natural, oval shape.