Find a plant:

Genus Itea (Sweetspire)

eye-TAY-ah Common Name: Sweetspire

A small genus of 10 or so shrubs and small trees in the gooseberry family. The evergreens have glossy, holly-like foliage, while the deciduous species have showy fall color. The flowers resemble dangling bottlebrushes or catkins.
Noteworthy characteristics: I. virginica is native to the eastern U.S.
Care: Provide full sun to part shade and moist, well-drained soil. Itea will not tolerate drought.
Propagation: Sow fresh seed in containers outdoors; root greenwood cuttings in spring, or semi-ripe cuttings in summer.
Problems: Infrequent.

Species, varieties and cultivars for genus Itea

Itea virginica 'Henry's Garnet'
('Henry's Garnet' Virginia sweetspire) Be the first to rate this plant

Hardiness Zones:

'Henry's Garnet' Virginia sweetspire is a very dependable, showy plant. It is an arching, 3- to 5-foot-tall shrub that holds its leaves well into fall, allowing the maroon, yellow, and orange tones to develop and reveal themselves over time. Virginia sweetspire also produces an early-summer show, featuring slender, drooping racemes of white flowers that attract all sorts of pollinating insects. Its suckering, slowly spreading, 6-foot-wide habit makes it a good choice for slopes and mass plantings.

Itea virginica 'Sprich'
(Little Henry® Virginia sweetspire) Be the first to rate this plant

Hardiness Zones:

Like the popular 'Henry's Garnet' Virginia sweetspire, Little Henry® has mildly fragrant white blooms in summer and red to orange leaf color in fall, but grows to just 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Use it in massed plantings, mixed borders, and containers.