About native summersweet bush - Ask Extension
Can this bush be kept trimmed to stay under 5 feet tall?, Ke will trimming harm it?
Thank you!
Knowledgebase
About native summersweet bush #926296
Asked March 19, 2026, 11:40 AM EDT
Can this bush be kept trimmed to stay under 5 feet tall?, Ke will trimming harm it?
Thank you!
Anne Arundel County Maryland
Expert Response
It might be easy to maintain a shrub that size if you're able to trim before the flowering period; trimming in spring should suffice since this species flowers on new growth. Trimming much later into the summer will delay or interrupt flowering. (Older wood does not have dormant flower buds on it yet during winter or spring.) If you don't already have a Summersweet plant in the garden, though, consider planting a dwarf cultivar, which will not need pruning (or very little pruning) to stay below 5 feet tall because they mature smaller on their own. There are a few dwarf cultivars on the market these days, with 'Hummingbird' and 'Sixteen Candles' being two of the most commonly available.
Miri
Miri
