Japanese clethra are native to east asia and have large panicles of small fragrant ice white flowers during late summer which attract bees and butterflies the clethra barbinervis is a tall variety with a maximum height of 25 metres making it a good shrub for the back of a large garden border in autumn it has naturally peeling bark that offers late season interest it is a good structural plant offering shape and height to a garden an ideal spot for it is somewhere that is sheltered wit