Comptonia peregrina
Growing Information
• Plant Type: Shrub
• Sunlight: Sun, part shade
• Soils: Sandy, acidic, dry to moist
• Bloom Time: Inconspicuous yellowish green flowers in April, May, June
• Size: 1-3 feet in height; 4-8 foot spread
Plant the nitrogen-fixing shrub as a ground cover for erosion control, foundation planting, mixed border, or massing. Colony forming, little management is needed. Fern-like leaves smell sweet and are deer resistant. Nice fall color.
Garden Companions
Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica), Beach Plum (Prunus maritima), Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
Nature Benefits
• Larval host for several sphinx moths, gray hairstreak butterfly, and others.
• Nutlets attract butterflies and birds.
Native Habitat
Occurs in clearings, pastures, edges of bog roads, and woodlands.