I have Ruby Spice, it's very pretty. September Beauty is supposedly more compact. I thought I was buying another Ruby Spice, and I got a white flowered form (mislabeled). It could be Vanilla Spice? It had a lot of flowers, bushier than RS, and is one year less in the ground, and as tall, as RS. Very upright, rounded growth habit. I love the winter form and the dried seed capsules. Clethra are one of my favorite shrubs.

As Ken suggested if you live near a university, when you have a bit more time, wandering around the campus may be a good way to learn what will survive in your area. I live about 40 miles south of Plymouth State U (so I'm warmer) and about 40 miles west of UNH (so I've better snow cover, but I'm colder since no coastal effect.) Both campuses have a nice selection of old standards and new varieties and species. I've spent time on both campuses and gotten a good feel for what is worth taking a chance on at home. The advantage for me to the campuses over garden tours is I can visit on my schedule, though the design isn't typically as nice. I also know that the origin of a particular selection is worth researching since sometimes when it is originally from a more northerly source it may be hardier. I've had good experience with Clethra 'Ruby Spice' in many different areas around my property but less so with 'Sixteen Candles' which often suffers die-back. I know that despite my problem with 'Little Henry' over the 3 or 4 years it took for me to give up on it, the regular Itea look great at UNH so I may try one of those to see if I'm more successful. Another thing to consider is that the way your buildings sit compared to your prevailing winds may give your plants protection in some areas and an extra blast of wind due to the funneling effect of walls in other areas. So where a plant is sited on your hilltop may effect plant survival.

Marsha and Alicia thank you both! Marsha yes you have found another gem, you need to plant one for your nose's sake if nothing else! I'm partial to the deeper rose blooms of Ruby Spice. Alicia I guess I didn't delve into Dirr's fifth edition as I should have, rather I obtained my information from his "Dirr's Hardy Trees And Shrubs" book and I guess he did make a mistake. Under the Pruning Times section at the back of the book he has Clethra Alnifolia listed as blooming on old wood, thus pruning only AFTER it flowered. Lucky you for having it all over the place! Getting my pruners out now!!!

i have found clethra to have a very regular, symmetrical shape. mine that are in full sun are leafy all the way to the ground. i have them growing in shade, in sun, and in sun/shade. all are nice plants. its one of the cleanest native plants out there, they don't look messy like some other shrubs. i did buy some from franks nursery a couple years ago that were very slow to leaf out and they were more woody and less leafy than my others. i think if i cut them back it will rejuvinate them. clethra have a nice yellow fall color too.