About Clethra arborea Aiton
Clethra arborea Aiton is an evergreen, narrowly upright shrub or small tree, reaching roughly 6 meters in height and 4 meters in width. It has dense, glossy foliage, with individual leaves growing up to 7 to 10 centimeters long. Its small, white, fragrant flowers resemble the flowers of lily of the valley, which gives this species its common name. Lily of the valley is not closely related to this plant, as lily of the valley is a monocotyledon. The flowers are arranged in terminal panicles and bloom from early to mid summer. This plant is toxic to humans: it contains andromedotoxin, which can cause diarrhea and even sudden death. For cultivation, Clethra arborea Aiton prefers moist, acidic, well-drained soils and does not tolerate alkaline soils. It is sensitive to frost, and will likely die if temperatures drop below −3 °C. It can be propagated by seeds, cuttings, and air-layering.
