With its bright-red winter buds and fall leaves, Sweetbells makes a great replacement for nonnative Burning Bush.  Its sweetly aromatic white spring flowers hang like bells along racimes.   
     
     Henry's Elfin caterpillars feed on the leaves, and butterflies and native bees drink the nectar.
 
     Sweetbells' native habitat is in damp woods along streams and near swamps, making it an attractive, no-maintenance shrub for shady, moist spots.  It can take full sun as long as the soil is consistently damp. 
 
     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