Itea: Sweetspire
Itea checks a lot of boxes for the modern gardener. It has great flowers, clean foliage, wonderful fall color, and it pretty much takes care of itself.
Plant care & info
Genus: Itea – i-TEE-uh – The Greek word for ‘willow’.
Common Name: Sweetspire
Family: Grossulariaceae
Northeastern Asia & Eastern North America.
Ten species of shrub or small trees make up the Itea genus. Flowers are small, white, cream or green-white carried in racemes or spikes. Some flowers are scented.
Bloom is in summer. Leaves are deciduous or evergreen, alternate. On deciduous varieties leaves change color in autumn, often turning scarlet to burgundy. Branches have chambered pith.
Varies per species, some mature at 3-5’ tall & wide, others grow to be 8-10’ tall.
Very adaptable plant. Prefers sun & moist fertile soil, but grows well in shade, tolerates drought, and adapts to differing pH levels.
Explore More Sweetspire
Itea Virginica
Itea Virginica
Native to the southeastern US, growing along stream banks in moist soil. Cultivated varieties are plentiful so we’ve selected our favorites for discussion.
Itea ‘Henry’s Garnet’
Itea ‘Henry’s Garnet’
White flowers along 6” spikes are lightly fragrant, blooming in June and July.
Deciduous leaves are green with coppery new growth and amazing bright red in fall. Leaves stay on the plant into December.
Compact growth matures at 3-4’ tall and 4-6’ wide. It can grow larger given time.
Itea ‘Little Henry’
Itea ‘Little Henry’
White flowers in shorter 3-4” spikes with light sweet scent in June & July.
Fall foliage is red to purple. Grows to 3’ x 3’ with dense compact habit.
Itea illicifolia 'Holly Sweetspire'
Itea illicifolia ‘Holly Sweetspire’
Native to Western China. This is an excellent form of Itea. Small light green to white flowers are borne on 6-12” long racemes that remind one of a many-crystal draped chandelier. Flowers bloom in July & August. Dark glossy leaves are spiny like holly but not quite as sharp. It is reliably evergreen.
Grows to be 6-12’ tall & wide. Prefers a sunny to partly sunny spot with well-drained moist soil that is protected from desiccating winds during winter. Hardy in Zone 8-9 (should be okay in Portland if protected from icy east winds).
