Itea virginica
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| Virginia sweetspire | ||||||||||||||
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| Itea virginica |
Itea virginica (Virginia sweetspire) is a plant in the Iteaceae.
[edit] Description
Itea virginica is a shrub with alternate, simple leaves, on arching stems. The flowers are white, borne in summer.
Itea virginica also known as Virginia Sweetspire is a deciduous to semievergreen shrub, growing 3' to 6' tall. It is a multistemmed, suckering and colonizing plant. The stems branch infrequently except at the tops. Individual shoot rise up and then arch over to some degree.
Summer Foliage:
- alternate leaf arrangement
- elliptical leaves with an acute apex
- leaves are 1.5 " to 4" long and 0.75" to 1.25" wide
- leaf margins are very finely serrated
- leaf color is medium to dark green and the leaf surface is glabrous
Autumn Foliage:
- fall color is spectacular and long-lasting
- a mix of yellow, orange, crimson and maroon
Flowers:
- 2" to 6" long
- racemes of small white flowers
- bloom time is June
- flowers are lightly fragrant
Fruit:
- non-ornamental, small capsules
- persists through the winter
Bark:
- stems are purple red on the sun-exposed side and green on the opposite side
- glabrous
Culture:
- full sun to partial shade
- best growth in fertile, moist soils
- pH adaptable
Landscape Use:
- useful for early summer bloom time
- good for naturalistic planting
- displays best in large masses or colonies
- excellent for fall foliage color
- relatively free from pests
- lack of cold hardiness below -20 degrees F can be problematic
- attracts butterflies
- Deer resistant
- Drought tolerant once established
References:
- UConn Plant Database: http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/i/itevir/itevir1.html
- Proven Winners: http://www.provenwinners.com/plants/detail.cfm?photoID=7745&doSearch=1&searchProgram=ColorChoice%C2%AE+Flowering+Shrubs&page=3&
