Look into any of the spring ephemerals - the wild flowers that come up the spring, flower and then disappear in the summer - there are a number that like damp places and could handle the water needs of the Clethra, and could be very attractive in the spring, but disappear when the Clethra came into its own. The above caveat about needing to dig suckers applies, but most of the suckers off mine, if I don't procrastinate about pulling them, come up easily and can be clipped off at the root, near the shrub. Look for a natives nursery, or connect up with your local plant-rescue organization and/or native plant society, and I am sure you could get plants. Just, if you do buy from a nursery, try to ensure that the plants are nursery grown, and not ripped out of someones' woods, with or without permission. If the Clethra is in shade, or part shade, ferns are anotehr possibility, as is bergenia (hardiness?) or columbine.

YR, I grow all my clethras in a such shady conditions that clematises will not bloom there, so I never even attempted to try such combo, but I think that clethra with its suckering habit might not be a good host for the clemmi. Another possible contra to this idea is that clethra's lateral branches are not thick enough to support a massive vine. On another side I think this could be a lovely combo, especially considering the fact that clethras leafing out very late and clematis foliage will decorate it early in a season. Hmmm...now when I start thinking about your idea, I think I might try Jacmanii on one of mine C.barbinervis which is approaching 12' mark and have top 6' in a full sun. Thanks for idea.

I'm so surprised that Clethra has not been successful across the board. It is one of my favorite shrubs and a native. It is interesting that my conditions are different than those mentioned. I added a 'Hummingbird' right under the dripline of a mature Maple and it's dry there. It has never had a brown edge on it. The Oakleaf Hydrangea next to it can't say the same. I do have challenging conditions, because my neighbors have large Silver Maples that just suck the moisture right out of the area. It does sucker but I did have room for it to do that and happy to have any shrub increase it's size near my Maple. It is fragrant and covered with bees when in bloom. And as much as I like 'Hummingbird', I really like 'Clethra Sue' even more. It is not a common variety and one I just stumbled upon and tried. It is probably twice the height of the 'Hummingbird' and has larger white flowers that dangle some. It also blooms later than 'Hummingbird' and is just starting to bloom right now. It is also planted in that back bed near the trees and seems to tolerate it without any issues. I'll try to get a photo of it tomorrow.

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.