Scientific name: Itea virginica ‘Henrey’s Garnet’
Family: ITEACEAE
Common names: “Virginia sweetspire”
Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
Conditions:
Zone: 5-9
Light: Full sun – part shade
Exposure: Sheltered
Soil: Average, tolerates clay, acidic clay loam
Moisture: Handles wet sites and dry conditions once established
Aesthetic:
Plant Size: 2-3′ H & W
Leaf and Stem shape: Simple leaves with attractive rich red and purple autumn colour
Flower: Fragrant creamy-white flowers in July
Pruning: Annual pruning to encourage stronger healthy blooms recommended, prune immediately after flowering in spring and early summer
Maintenance: Low
Landscape use: Wallside borders, mass plantings, scented garden, groundcover
Propagate: By seed and cuttings
Pests & Disease: None in Victoria
Comments: ~AGM winner, North American native, straight species can grow to be much larger 3-15′
