With its beautiful white spring flowers and bright red fall leaves, Sweetbells makes a great replacement for nonnative Burning Bush.  Its sweetly aromatic flowers hang like bells along its branches.
 
     Reaching heights of just 3 to 6 feet, Sweetbells likes to colonize and makes a great deciduous hedge. 
 
     Its native habitat is in damp woods along streams and near swamps, making it an attractive, low-maintenance shrub for shady spots. It is adaptable to sunny sites with enough moisture. 
 
     Sweetbell's leaves are glossy and emerge reddish before turning dark green in summer and then scarlet red in the fall. 
     
     Henry's Elfin caterpillars feed on the leaves, and butterflies and native bees drink the nectar.
 
     Fun fact: An alternate name, Doghobble, refers to the tangled layers of stems that are difficult to pass through (Cullina, W. Native Trees, Shrubs & Vines, 2002)
 
     Photo: Doug McGrady