Sweetspire Itea virginica
Itea virginica is one of those plants that draws instant attention in the shade garden, firstly for its delicate scent, and secondly for its gorgeous seasonal display. Itea is one of the most shade tolerant flowering shrubs and thrives even in wet soils, making it an excellent plant for tough areas. Scentlandia from Proven Winners is one of the most fragrant varieties with sweetly scented, long summer blooms. This small, hardy shrub also has outstanding fall color so that the plant stays interesting beyond its bloom time. Little Henry is a useful native plant with lots of potential for the home landscape. It prefers moist soils and will tolerate wet conditions. It will grow in full sun to full shade, and requires little pruning or other maintenance. Little Henry has lightly scented, pure white flowers that shoot like fireworks in the early summer horizon. Its mounded, compact stature makes it an improvement over older varieties such as the old favorite ‘Henry’s Garnet’. It is also a delightful addition to the mixed border. Then when you’re not expecting anything more, green summer foliage changes to a brilliant multitude of oranges and reds in the fall, making Little Henry a rewarding experience through out all seasons.
CHARACTERISTICS
PLANT NEEDS
May be pruned after blooming if required. In colder areas, sweetspire may experience a bit of weather damage coming out of winter, so prune any dead wood out after new growth has begun.
If desired, fertilize in spring with a granular fertilizer formulated for trees and shrubs, like a rose fertilizer.
Homestead Gardens carries three varieties of Sweetspire Itea. Visit our stores, or shop online!
Fizzy Mizzy® |
Little Henry® |
Scentlandia® |
Shrubs for Shade
Proven Winners Color Choice Shrubs for shady areas of your garden and landscape are carefully selected for proven beauty, gorgeous foliage and resistance to pests and disease. Learn more about Itea, Spirea and Azalea in this video.