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Itea virginica

Phonetic Spelling
eye-TEE-ah ver-JIN-ih-kah
Description

Virginia Sweetspire is a native deciduous to a semi-evergreen shrub that is found in the southeast USA on streambanks and wet pine barrens. It is found in most areas of NC. It can grow up to 8 feet tall and has graceful arching branches. In early summer, small, fragrant, white flowers occur in terminal arching racemes. Fall color is red to purple and lasts well into winter.

Virginia Sweetspire prefers moist, rich, slightly acidic humusy soils in partial sun to partial shade, but tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and pHs. Best flowering occurs with 4 hours of sun per day. It can form dense colonies by root suckering and can be used for erosion control in wet areas or on wet banks. This plant blooms on previous season's wood, so pruning should be done after flowering. Use en masse for spectacular spring flowers.

The species is rarely sold and the cultivar 'Henry's Garnet' is what is easiest to find for sale. The genus name, Itea, comes from the Greek word meaning "willow", which is in reference to the similarity of the leaves or flower clusters to those of some willow plants.

Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating.

Quick ID Hints:

  • 2-6 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 sun side) with crescent-shaped leaf scars.
  • Short branches have a superposed bud, are imbricate, and reddish-green.
  • Leaves are 11⁄2"-4" 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:
'Henry's Garnet', 'Little Henry', 'Sarah Eve', 'Saturnalia', 'Shirleys Compact'
Tags:
#fragrant#hummingbird friendly#arching#evergreen#deciduous#rain garden#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#semi-evergreen#nectar plant#native shrub#riparian#fall interest#wetlands#pond margins#fire low flammability#NC native#children's garden#playground plant#edible seeds#pollinator plant#fantz#evergreen shrub#food source summer#food source fall#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FACW#Piedmont Mountains OBL#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#nectar plant late spring#food source hard mast fruit#mammals#butterfly friendly#nectar plant early summer#Audubon#stormwater demo garden orange co#pruning tolerant#weed#landscape plant sleuths course#wildlife friendly#collier preserve tn#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Henry's Garnet', 'Little Henry', 'Sarah Eve', 'Saturnalia', 'Shirleys Compact'
Tags:
#fragrant#hummingbird friendly#arching#evergreen#deciduous#rain garden#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#semi-evergreen#nectar plant#native shrub#riparian#fall interest#wetlands#pond margins#fire low flammability#NC native#children's garden#playground plant#edible seeds#pollinator plant#fantz#evergreen shrub#food source summer#food source fall#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FACW#Piedmont Mountains OBL#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#nectar plant late spring#food source hard mast fruit#mammals#butterfly friendly#nectar plant early summer#Audubon#stormwater demo garden orange co#pruning tolerant#weed#landscape plant sleuths course#wildlife friendly#collier preserve tn#cpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Itea
    Species:
    virginica
    Family:
    Iteaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Southeastern United States
    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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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