Itea Shrubs: Facts and Characteristics

The deciduous itea shrub (itea virginica) has evergreen or semi-evergreen leaves and grows in USDA hardiness zones five to nine. This shrub is considered part of the Grossulariaceae (gooseberry) or Iteaceae family, with the latter consisting of 20 species mostly grown in Asia. Other common names for the itea shrub include: sweetspire (or Virginia sweetspire), Virginia willow and Tassel-white.

Habitat & Growing Conditions

The itea shrub grows naturally in the southeastern United States and northeastern Asia in areas with moist to wet soil. You'll find it growing along water banks, particularly streams. It likes well-drained loamy, sandy or clay soil with an acidic to slightly alkaline pH. It grows well in a fully to partially sunny spot and can also tolerate a little drought.

Flowers

The flowers usually blossom in late spring to early summer. These small blooms come in white, cream or greenish-white colors and are sometimes lightly fragrant. They grow on spikes (or racemes) that reach three to seven inches long.

Leaves

The leaves take on an elliptical shape and measure up to four inches long. These medium- to dark-green leaves have small teeth along their edges, and they turn colors in the fall. These colors range from yellow to burgundy.

Other Characteristics

Sweetspire typically grows from three to six feet tall and wide, although some cultivars can grow over 10 feet. It produces fruit in the form of a small woody capsule. The flowers contain nectar and attract butterflies, while birds like to eat the seeds. It grows and spreads by runners and can become an invasive plant.

Cultivars

The most common Virginia willow cultivar is 'Henry's Garnet'. It's a lightly fragrant variety that blooms in June, keeps its leaves until December, and can grow higher than four feet and wider than six feet if given enough time.

The 'Merlot' cultivar resembles the 'Little Henry' variety, which blooms in July and is said to be more compact. Itea illicifolia, a native to western China, shoots as high as 12 feet and 'Long Spire' produces spikes up to 10 inches long. Other itea shrub cultivars include 'Sarah Eve' and 'Saturnalia'.