Itea chinensis
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- eye-TEE-ah chi-NEN-sis
- Description
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Chinese sweetspire is an evergreen shrub in the Iteaceae family native to Asia. It can be found growing in sparse forests, mountain slopes, valleys, streamsides and roadsides.
Chinese sweetspire grows up to 32 feet tall in its native habitat, but here in cultivation it grows 6 to 12 feet tall and 4 to 8 feet wide. It does best with some afternoon shade in most moist well-drained soils.
In spring, abundant 4-inch-long clusters of small white fragrant flowers appear that attract bees. The foliage is glossy and evergreen in the warmer growing zones.
Use as a foundation plant, as a hedge or in the mixed shrub border. Use in a pollinator, winter or cottage garden
Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems: No significant problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Itea
- Species:
- chinensis
- Family:
- Iteaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Asia
- Distribution:
- Assam, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam, West Himalaya
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract bees
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- 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:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Capsule striate, oblong-lanceolate
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 4-inch-long clusters of small white flowers appear in spring in the leaf axils.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Glossy dark green leaves are obovate or ovate-elliptic. Undersides are pale green. Leaves are 2.5 to 6 inches long and 1 to 2.4 inches wide with a cuneate base and crenate margins
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Bark Description:
- glabrous
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Young branche are smooth and yellow-green and turn brown with age.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Specimen
- Understory Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
