Plant profile: Clethra

[@sylviahardy4568]

Stephen, wearing an open neck shirt and unbuttoned jacket, agreeing it's a "Very brisk winters day" 😆 As ever, lovely plants 💚

[@thehorti-culturalists]

I grew up here and I can agree on it being cold but that doesn't mean I feel it!. Regards Stephen

[@sylviahardy4568]

@thehorti-culturalists Fair point. You're a tough, hardy perennial 💪

[@loriedmundson782]

Lovely shrub. Thank you for showcasing it. Grows in my area so it is on my list for spring.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Glad you enjoyed it. Regards Stephen

[@MDA-rs4uf]

I saw a clethra barbinervis in upstate NY in the US that literally knocked my Sox off. It was so georgeous. I have 3 of them but my guess is that it takes a good bit if time to show off...the ruby spice alnifolia is pink and quite sweet but the barbinervis is outstanding and to please Matthew there is a nice variegated one that is interesting and Matthew would surely love it ...

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Oh we would love the variegated one wouldn't we Matthew! Regards Stephen

[@thehorti-culturalists]

I'm learning to be diplomatic about variegation....! Matthew

[@paulacothren3591]

Here in the US South, we grow Clethra alnifolia quite easily. I have 'Hummingbird', 'Ruby Spice. and 'Sixteen Candles'. These plants are insect and disease resistant for me and apparently have high quality nectar because the hummingbirds do love them (as the name suggests). Thank you, gentlemen.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

A pleasure. Regards Stephen

[@JackieHamlin-xs5se]

Another stunner of an episode. I admired these from afar but never knew what they were. Looking at my nursery catalogs, thinking of a spring purchase. Thanks so much. Such a rich prospect your program is. Northern Wisconsin, USA

[@thehorti-culturalists]

You are so welcome! Regards Stephen

[@svetlanasgardenhomeofredwa4342]

Thanks! I really enjoyed the spectacular bark. 😂 thanks for braving the cold, it did not look like a "let's splash in the water" day

[@thehorti-culturalists]

I think you are being a bit tongue in cheek, so good for you! Regards Stephen

[@MyFocusVaries]

First impression: weather certainly is relative. "Brisk winter's day..." I grew up in a mid northern Canadian town (53rd parallel), and if you can wear a blazer, it's not that cold. 😂 The clethra are lovely. Matthew's "Okay" in response to Steven's declaration that the bark is more impressive when it's wet 😂😂😂

[@thehorti-culturalists]

All things are relative and the weather is no exception! Regards Stephen

[@scallywags12]

I have a Clethera alnifloia that blooms in the summer and it’s flowers are pink. Likes moist soil under deciduous trees. Your looks great!

[@thehorti-culturalists]

There is much to enjoy in this Genus. Regards Stephen

[@katrinkatterman3069]

I really enjoy your deep dives into obscure genus! I want my garden to be full of unusual plants and not look like I bought it at Home Depot! Keep up the great work!

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Glad we are helping you on your laudable pursuit. Regards Stephen

[@MDA-rs4uf]

Clethra isn't that obscure, it's been around all along you just haven't noticed...

[@JourneyGarden]

Regarding Clethra barbinervis, Michael Dirr in his book 'The Tree Book' (co-authored with Keith Warren) says that somebody needs to get to work developing superior selections of the tree-like Clethras with truly spectacular, more colorful bark!

[@thehorti-culturalists]

And so say all of us! Regards Stephen

[@anserbauer309]

Thanks for highlighting such an interesting genus! Gotta love a scented bush with such pretty flowers! I have a question: I have a loquat tree I bought from a market 9 years ago that refuses to flower or fruit. I think it was grown from a cutting; it's not grafted. I've grown them before in heavy clay soils (amended with gypsum) in Melbourne and near the coast with great results, but this one just won't perform. It's about 3m x 3m, constantly has lush foliage and new growth and is planted between crabapples, japonicas and roses with about 6-7 hours full sun daily. I feed them all a slow release fish-based fertiliser twice a year and use aged goose-poo on the lawn around them. Everything else fruits and flowers in great abundance. I'm in South West Vic, 40 km inland from the coast at 130m elevation. Any tips on getting this tree to at least flower (I don't even know if it's a self fertile variety) would be greatly appreciated. Any tips on choosing a suitable loquat cultivar and benefits of grafted plants would also be brilliant.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

I would say it’s a seedling hence it has to go through a juvenile stage to flower which can take many years.You can’t speed up this process. A grafted form will not only flower younger but will be a superior larger fruited plant than you can expect from seed. All loquats are self pollinating Not sure of what named grafted forms on the market however.

[@anserbauer309]

@@thehorti-culturalists Thank you! Very helpful. Online info has been contradictory and nonspecific. Might have to make a trip to the city to find the perfect, grafted loquat and some dwarf bamboo for the garden. Seems like all the nurseries near me use all the same suppliers, with most of the fruit trees being exactly the same standard varieties you find in the supermarket. I much prefer to grow fruit and veg I can't buy in the supermarket for $2 a kilo when it's in-season.

[@bernardkeays9756]

Plethora Clethra!

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching....and that was the autocorrect title!

[@joanne-et6pm]

Hi Stephen & Matt Clethra quiet spectacular in summer it's lovely to have a shrub that has a lovely perfume when walking around & really interesting history where it's from Thanks for sharing ur videos guys Happy gardening 👍🌸🐝🦟

[@thehorti-culturalists]

A pleasure. Regards Stephen