Itea virginica
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- eye-TEE-ah ver-JIN-ih-kah
- Description
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Virginia Sweetspire is a native deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub in the Itea family (Iteaceae). It is native to the southeast USA and west toward Texas and Missouri. In its native habitat, it is found in moist woods, swamps, wet pine barrens, and along small stream banks. The genus name is Greek for willow referring to the leaves or flower clusters which look like some willow plants. The specific epithet means Virginia.
The shrub tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, pHs, and light. Grow in moist, slightly acidic fertile soil in full sun for best flowering, fall color, and density. It can grow 4’-8’ feet tall with graceful arching branches. Dense colonies are formed by root suckering. Propagation is by seed, cuttings in spring, or division. This plant blooms on previous season's wood, so pruning should be done after flowering, before the next buds form in late summer. Periodic rejuvenation pruning of the oldest, thickest stems will encourage more shoots with flowers.
The species is rarely sold and the cultivar 'Henry's Garnet' is what is easiest to find for sale. Fragrant bottlebrush-like flower clusters appear in late spring for several weeks and attract pollinators. Seed heads follow, which are eaten by songbirds. Fall colors are a showy yellow, orange, and red which lasts into winter. The shrub is usually deer-resistant.
Since Virginia Sweetspire tolerates periodic flooding, plant in rain gardens, bioswales, and banks of creeks, rivers, and lakes, the suckers can stabilize erosion on slopes. Use in small groups or as a mass planting in borders, natural areas, and woodland edges.
Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating.
Quick ID Hints:
- 2- to 6-inch-long raceme of small, white flowers; is very showy.
- Has pubescent petiole with a groove on the upper side.
- Green to reddish-purple stem (on the sunny side) with crescent-shaped leaf scars.
- Short branches have a superposed bud, are imbricate, and reddish green.
- Leaves are 1.5- to 4-inches long, with a finely serrated margin.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Avoid over-fertilization. Resistant to Phytophthora root rot.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Native Woodland Garden, Durham Pinehurst Greenway Pollinator Habitat Garden, Moore County
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Bailteaone'
3-4 feet tall and wide, dark red fall color - 'Beppu'
3' tall. compact.
'Henry's Garnet'
- 'Little Henry'
Dwarf with arching form that grows 3'-5' tall. - 'Long Spire'
3-5', dropping 6-8" inflorescences. - 'Sarah Eve'
4-6' tall and wide,pink hue to inflorescence. - 'Saturnalia'
4' tall and wide with loose, irregular habit. - 'Shirleys Compact'
18" tall and 3' wide.
4-6' tall and wide with reddish-purple fall color. - 'Bailteaone'
- 'Bailteaone', 'Beppu', 'Henry's Garnet', 'Little Henry', 'Long Spire', 'Sarah Eve', 'Saturnalia', 'Shirleys Compact'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Bailteaone'
3-4 feet tall and wide, dark red fall color - 'Beppu'
3' tall. compact.
'Henry's Garnet'
- 'Little Henry'
Dwarf with arching form that grows 3'-5' tall. - 'Long Spire'
3-5', dropping 6-8" inflorescences. - 'Sarah Eve'
4-6' tall and wide,pink hue to inflorescence. - 'Saturnalia'
4' tall and wide with loose, irregular habit. - 'Shirleys Compact'
18" tall and 3' wide.
4-6' tall and wide with reddish-purple fall color. - 'Bailteaone'
- 'Bailteaone', 'Beppu', 'Henry's Garnet', 'Little Henry', 'Long Spire', 'Sarah Eve', 'Saturnalia', 'Shirleys Compact'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Itea
- Species:
- virginica
- Family:
- Iteaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern United States
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , DC , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NJ , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators. Seeds are eaten by songbirds.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Edible fruit
- Fragrance
- Textural
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Resistant to fire in the landscape. Resistant to Phytophthora root rot. This plant is moderately resistant to damage from deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Erect
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Woody capsules arranged in racemes, showy in the fall. Fruits are slim, pubescent, have tiny seeds, are 1/3" long, and are persistent into the following year. Displays from August to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 3-6 inch long racemes of fragrant, tiny white flowers cover the shrub from May to June. The flowers open from base to tip, are lightly fragrant and are borne on previous season's growth. Flowers are very showy.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Elliptical, alternate, simple dark green leaves (1-4" long and 1 1/4" wide) turn varying shades of red, orange and gold in autumn often persisting on the plants until early winter. Leaves have an acute apex and cuneate base, have a finely serrated margin, are glabrous above and can be slightly pubescent below. Pubescent petiole up to 1/4" long with a groove on the upper side.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Scaly
- Stem Leaf Scar Shape:
- C-shaped, Cresent shaped
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems have a medium thickness, are green to reddish-purple in color on sun side, are glabrous, and have crescent-shaped leaf scars. Buds are superposed, imbricate, and reddish-green on short branches.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Pond
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Fire
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy
