Virginia Sweetspire Itea virginica
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Virginia Sweetspire:
- Phonetic Spelling
- eye-TEE-ah ver-JIN-ih-kah
- Description
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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.
- 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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'Henry's Garnet'
- 'Little Henry'
Dwarf with arching form that grows 3'-5' tall. - 'Sarah Eve'
- 'Saturnalia'
- 'Shirleys Compact'
Compact with reddish-purple fall color. - 'Little Henry'
- 'Henry's Garnet', 'Little Henry', 'Sarah Eve', 'Saturnalia', 'Shirleys Compact'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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'Henry's Garnet'
- 'Little Henry'
Dwarf with arching form that grows 3'-5' tall. - 'Sarah Eve'
- 'Saturnalia'
- 'Shirleys Compact'
Compact with reddish-purple fall color. - 'Little Henry'
- 'Henry's Garnet', 'Little Henry', 'Sarah Eve', 'Saturnalia', 'Shirleys Compact'
- Tags:
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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.
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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
