Itea virginica - Virginia Sweetspire (Saxifragaceae) ------Itea virginica is known as a tough shrub with showy Twigs flowers and outstanding maroon fall color. The white -on the species form, young stems are light brown or flower clusters are tubular, appear in mid-summer green, while old stems are gray-brown and striated, and are also fragrant. The shrub can be used for with small buds naturalizing in either wet or dry sites because of a -on 'Henry's Garnet', the young stems are purplish suckering characteristic. 'Henry's Garnet' is a popular red, slowly changing to shades of red, brown, and cultivar. green as the stems mature Trunk FEATURES -not applicable Form -small- to medium-sized, USAGE deciduous to semi-evergreen Function ornamental shrub -foundation, specimen, border, group planting, or -species form matures at 6' naturalizing shrub, effectively used in sunny to shady tall x 6' wide, but the and/or dry to wet sites primary cultivar is about Texture half that size -medium-fine texture in foliage and when bare -upright rounded growth -thick density in foliage and when bare habit Assets -slow growth rate -attractive and fragrant white inflorescences at the Culture branch tips in early to mid-summer -full sun to full shade -highly adaptable -prefers moist, rich, slightly -brilliant scarlet or mixed color autumn foliage acidic soils in partial sun to the species form will develop colonies and easily partial shade, but is highly naturalizes, exhibiting erosion control in wet or adaptable to neutral or sloped sites by basal suckering (if this is desired) alkaline pH soils, soils of average fertility, wet sites, Liabilities or dry sites -the species form will spread beyond its originally -propagated primarily by rooted cuttings, but also by intended space by peripheral suckers, creating a seed or by separation of the root suckers tangled colony of erect and arching stems - no serious disease or pest problems Habitat -the species form is rarely available, but the cultivar -Zones 5 to 9 'Henry's Garnet' is commonly available in container -Native to the Southern U.S. form Foliage SELECTIONS -species form has broadleaf foliage that is medium Alternates green, slowly deciduous to semi-evergreen to -shrubs with fragrant flowers (Clethra alnifolia, evergreen, depending upon hardiness zone of Hamamelis vernalis or Hamamelis x intermedia location; 'Henry's Garnet' is intensely burgundy-green cultivar, Philadelphus species, Syringa species and and glossy, especially on the new growth cultivars, etc.) or those flowering in summer (Clethra -leaves are alternate, oblong, and serrated alnifolia, Heptacodium miconioides, Hibiscus -autumn color for the species is crimson-burgundy in syriacus, Hydrangea species, Hypericum species, full sun, and a mixture of green, yellow, orange, and Philadelphus species, etc.) scarlet in partial sun to full -shrubs with prolonged and vibrant autumn color shade, while 'Henry's Garnet' is (Euonymus alata, Fothergilla gardenii, Hamamelis x a deep and glossy burgundy 'Arnold Promise', Hydrangea quercifolia, Spiraea x under all light conditions bumalda 'Goldflame', Viburnum plicatum var. -coloring from early Oct. tomentosum 'Mariesii', etc.) through early Dec., with the -shrubs tolerant of dry, continuously moist, or wet predominate coloration sites (Cornus alba, C. racemosa, C. sanguinea, or C. occuring in Nov. sericea, Hydrangea quercifolia, Salix purpurea, etc.) Flowers Cultivars – Variants – Related species -white, 4" long x 1/2" wide Itea virginica 'Henry's Garnet' – the main cultivar in fragrant inflorescences bloom the trade; a small spreading shrub noted for its from mid-June into early July, differences from the species: compact growth habit being held upright, horizontal, (to 3' x 4'), reddish-purple first-year basal stems that or curving and pendulous, and often do not branch, lustrous dark green foliage, somewhat bottlebrush-like in appearance showier flower clusters 3-6" long, and vibrant Fruits burgundy-purple to garnet shiny autumn color that -small capsules on a fruiting stalk are green changing develops in late Oct., peaks throughout Nov., and to brown, not showy but winter persistent and a good extends into early Dec., slowly abscising in northern ID feature climates but semi-evergreen in southern climates -Itea virginica Little Henry® - a smaller, more compact form of ‘Henry’s Garnet’