Itea Itea virginica

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- 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.