Clethra fargesii

The Clethra fargesii is a species of Clethra native to Asia. It is closely related to the Clethra barbinervis, but has a more moderate growth habit. It is also distinguished by wider leaves towards the apex, denser and more persistently downy on the underside, and its calyx lobes are not finely pointed, but rounded. It is a spreading bush with decorative bark, autumn-coloured foliage, and a very long summer flowering period that is white and airy, both melliferous and fragrant. Clethra plants bring life to large heather soil beds and slightly shaded areas of the garden, in humus-bearing, non-limestone, moist to wet soils.

The Clethra fargesii is a deciduous shrub native to the Chinese provinces of Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, and Sichuan, where it grows in forests and thickets at elevations between 700 and 2100 metres. It is very cold-hardy (-18°C) and can reach a height and spread of 3 to 4 metres under suitable growing conditions. The shrub has a bushy and dense habit, almost as wide as it is tall. Its smooth, orange-coloured bark peels off with age, revealing yellow ochre-coloured patches. From spring onwards, the branches bear lanceolate leaves with prominent veins, toothed edges, and a slightly rough texture, measuring about 12-15 cm in length. The leaves are bright green in spring and summer, gradually turning yellow and then red in autumn before falling. The flowering period occurs in midsummer, from July to September, and remains decorative for several weeks. Inflorescences measuring 5 to 15 cm in length form in the axils of the leaves, located towards the end of the branches. These inflorescences are composed of numerous tiny white bell-shaped flowers with prominent stamens that open from the base of the spike to the top. Their sweet fragrance has a pleasant note of green apple and can be smelled several metres away. After pollination, decorative fruits form and remain on the branches throughout winter.

The Clethra fargesii, with its Japanese-inspired appearance, is ideal for the back of a border or in a free hedge, where it pairs perfectly with Photinias, Forsythias, Pieris, for example. It thrives in light, non-limestone soils that never dry out, in partially shaded positions that are bright but not scorching. It finds its place in heather soil beds or in front of large deciduous trees, provided the soil remains moist in summer. For example, pair it with large rhododendrons, camellias, Kalmia, and winter-flowering heathers that will take over after its flowering period. As it can be grown in large containers with regular watering, it can also be used to decorate a terrace or patio.