I have a grouping of Little Henry Sweetspire right near my patio and love it. Also may be naturalized in cottage gardens, wild gardens or naturalized areas. Mary has been a Master Gardener for 30+ years and a commercial and residential gardener for 50+ years. Great for massing on large banks, in beds, and perennial and shrub borders. Little Henry has lightly scented, pure white flowers that shoot like fireworks in the early summer horizon. Chokeberries, also known as Aronia, are multi-stemmed shrubs with white flowers, red or black glossy berries, and great red fall color. The Latin name for summersweet is Clethra alnifolia. In the northern part of the hardiness range, winter cold may cause dieback of the branch tips. This compact selection reaches 3 to 5 feet tall. 20+ Rain Garden Plants To reverse this problem, it's important to make the soil more acidic. Find locations near you that offer Proven Winners products. The foliage of the Little Henry Sweetspire is stunning. I'm in zone 5, mid Missouri. In USDA growing zone 5a (the northern end of its range), a bush will likely experience several inches of winter dieback on the tops of the branches (they turn a tan color). The fall color on this plant is brilliant. So if you'd rather have the fragrant blooms of clethra in the summer (patio season? Consistent moisture in well-draining soil is a must. Additional feeding during the growing season is not necessary. To use the website as intended please Except for fertilization and minor pruning, this plant is maintenance-free. I'd hate to give up on sweetspire because it's a pretty plant when it's healthy. As noted by others it depends on your preferred features. Summersweet is a medium-sized deciduous shrub that adds color and fragrance to your garden with its late-summer blooms. Was delivered healthy and packaged very well. This plant can work in a variety of soil pHs, types, and moisture levels. Garden Uses: Sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia), also called summersweet, is a Maryland native plant found in forested wetlands, floodplains, and swamps. Summersweet, or Clethra alnifolia, is a shrub that can tolerate areas of standing water and still thrive. This sturdy native shrub is also remarkably adaptable, tolerating shade, soggy soil, and salty air, making it a valuable addition to woodland settings and coastal gardens. Q: My Virginia sweetspire plants have looked awful by summer's end the last two years. The serrated, glossy, dark green foliage turns golden-yellow in fall. Even deer tend to leave it alone. They will tolerate short periods of drought but perform best when they receive regular water. PropagationTake greenwood cuttings in early summer. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources. I am a huge fan of Proven Winners and own a lot of their shrubs, perennials, and annuals, and they usually do not disappoint. Stay ahead of any root-suckering that may occur if you do not wish for the bushes to spread. Its natural environment includes wet and swampy areas of woodland as well as marshes and river banks. The shrub has a rounded habit and produces cylindrical drooping flowers (racemes) from late spring to mid-summer. Merlot Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica 'Merlot'): Merlot sweetspire is a cultivar (cultivated variety) of Virginia sweetspire which is native to the moist partly-shaded areas of the south-eastern United States. of the member-only content library. I bought 2 Itea quart-size in 2015 when we first moved to our house, located on a windy mountain, zone 6, and on heavy, wet Virginia clay. Mulch is a good idea. Available in better garden centers in spring 2019. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. . In fall, the leaves turn an attractive yellow. Once the roots are in place, you can move it out to the landscape. Sugartina 'Crystalina' Summersweet. As noted by others it depends on your preferred features. If you dont want your shrubs to naturalize, simply clip away the suckers from the base of the plant to maintain a more formal appearance. Will grow in shade, but flowering and fall color improves when the plant gets at least some sun each day. Sugartina 'Crystalina' Buy now from Proven Winners. Itea virginica, commonly called Virginia sweetspire, is an erect, rounded, broad-spreading, deciduous shrub with arching branches. Sign up for a free trial and get access to ALL our regional content, plus the rest More about the newsletter. Red and Black Chokeberry. Because clethra bloom on new growth, prune during winter or early spring to avoid removing developing flower buds. Such dieback in winter means the loss of some of the flower buds that produce blooms in spring. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. In landscape design, they are especially effective massed or grouped in sunny or shady flowering shrub borders, butterfly and hummingbird gardens. The seed capsules turn brown and persist on the plant in . If you want to give these a go, Id suggest to try to buy when they are in bloom to see if they have a scent. But OH MY WORD! Its small size makes it perfect for smaller borders and beds. Place your shrub in the hole, gently spreading out the roots, and then backfill to ground level and water well. Keeping a Virginia sweetspire in a container for the first season is entirely possible. Prune as needed to maintain the desired shape and remove dead, diseased, and damaged branches. Equally as pretty in the fall with it's bright orange foliage. Stressed plants are more likely to run into bug and disease problems than "happy" ones in soils, sites and weather they prefer. I would another, If i had space for it. Severe cases can kill the plant. Has a compact habit similar to Hummingbird but with sturdier branches that hold the slender 6-inch flower spikes upright like candles rather than allowing them to flop over. Be inspired with our Gardener's Idea Book and Winner's Circle newsletter, Little Henry - Sweetspire - Itea virginica. You could also divide the plants if you'd like during the move. Not sure which Clethra to pick?Compare All Clethra, Buy Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird' (Summersweet). Features fragrant, tiny white flowers borne in cylindrical, drooping racemes (3-6" long) which cover the shrub . Merlot is named for its fall color which is dark red and persists into winter. Accept However, I did not get any blooms this year. PropagationSow seed at 43 to 54F in spring or autumn. Then watch for a return of the leaf-spotting and scale. ), that might be the right one. It has a long period of good autumn color with leaves that turn shades of red, orange, and gold. The showy bottlebrush-like flower clusters, some nearly a foot long, continue for weeks on end, attracting a steady parade of butterflies and bees with their seductive fragrance. Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) is one garden plant that truly lives up to its name, producing an abundance of sweetly scented flowers during the waning days of summer, when few other shrubs are in bloom. It likes humusy soils, so mixing in compost before planting is a good idea. To jumpstart growth, feed in early spring with a slow-release fertilizer or an all-purpose organic plant food. He's planted in a alkaline soil with some shade. What plants are similar to Virginia Sweetspire? The flowers aren't just longer, larger, and more fragrant than other varieties - they're also more cold tolerant, assuring a good display even in USDA zone 5 where flower buds are frequently damaged. When planted right and in the right spot, Clethra, also called summersweet or sweet pepperbush, are very easy to grow. For a much larger shrub, go with Hollyleaf Sweetspire which can grow up to 12 feet high. All Rights Reserved. A: I've seen occasional fungal leaf-spotting on Virginia sweetspires, but scale attack isn't common. No problems, no diseases, not fussy at all and both have grown to 3'x3' with plenty of flowers and great Fall color. The optimum amount of sun or shade each plant needs to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours). In a partial shade spot, another clethra does not flower nearly as well. Suggested Use: Hedge, Naturalize, Rain Garden, Tolerate: Heavy Shade, Erosion, Clay Soil, Wet Soil. If so, and the site is suitable, maybe do a mixed planting. So far, the plant is doing very well. It will come back strong in the spring. Cover with a thin layer of sand, then keep them in low light under plastic. I did and found LOTS of scales up and down the stems. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. It is a lovely shrub and is doing well (I make sure that it gets enough water, especially during this year's drought) except that it has chlorosis. Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica; Zones 5-9) enjoys the same cultural requirements as summersweet and it will do fine in a regular garden setting as long as the soil is relatively moist. Use as an underplanting beneath trees or in a woodland garden. The runners arent extremely aggressive. Any thoughts on these two shrubs? Some people would recommend using a fungicide to combat the leaf disease and horticultural oil or a similar scale-killing insecticide to deal with the bugs. Be inspired with our Gardener's Idea Book and Winner's Circle newsletter, Scentlandia - Sweetspire - Itea virginica. Check these Great Plant Combination Ideas with Clethra, An Eye-Catching Border Idea with colorful Allium and Euphorbia, A Super Climbing Duo with Clematis 'Viola', A Super Climbing Duo with Clematis montana Grandiflora, A Super Climbing Duo with Clematis 'The President', A Super Climbing Trio with Clematis 'Ville de Lyon', A Super Climbing Trio with Clematis and Roses, A Super Climbing Duo with Crimson Roses and Purple Clematis, 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, A2, A3, Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird' (Summersweet), Densely-branched, rounded, this summer-flowering shrub spreads slowly by suckers and typically grows 2-4 feet tall (60-120 cm) with a spread of 3-5 ft. (90-150 cm). Any ideas?Tammy. Sunlight is also a requirement, as these shrubs need full sun as well as slightly acidic soil to achieve the best results. Summer Sparkler Summersweet, Summer Sweet, Einstein Summersweet, Novacleein, or Clethra Alnifolia, is a compact, heavy-blooming, deciduous shrub packed with 12-inch floriferous spires of twisted, fragrant blooms, reminiscent of Albert Einstein's trademark hair. Let us know what you decide. Best all around shrub in my opinion. This is a good plant for woodland gardens or at the front of the mixed border. A broad, upright habit makes it well-suited for use as a fragrant hedge or privacy screen. The plant tolerates wetness but on poor sites is thin and straggly. They can be planted immediately, or the following spring. Softwood stem cuttings, taken in early summer, are the best way to propagate summersweet. Julie Thompson-Adolf is a Master Gardener and author. In early spring, fertilize your summersweet with a slow-release formula meant for trees and shrubs. Clay and wet soil tolerant. Elsewhere, summersweet looks nice when grouped in planting beds or lined up as a shrub border. Summersweet prefers moist soil and even grows well in areas with standing water. Full shade is tolerated. Their vibrant color will create a pop of color in your border until those first frosts settle in. They bloomed in 2019 no fragrance detected. Does anybody grow Moonlight in paris or tamora rose? Wandering roots and stems can easily be chopped off and transplanted. This plant is quite hardy and doesn't have any serious pests to contend with. So, I'm only rating this plant as satisfactory. May be pruned after blooming if required. We use cookies on this website, you can read about them here. This results in a lack of chlorophyll, which in turn results in leaves that lose their color and fade. It prefers acidic, sandy soil that is moist but will tolerate clay soils, as long as they're amended with organic material, and full shade. Eventually, the leaves turn yellow and die. Only plants will be removed from the collection. Full Shade to Full Sun. Get complete site access to expert advice, regional content, and more, plus the print magazine. En cliquant sur Accepter , j'accepte l'utilisation des cookies telle qu'elle est dcrite plus en dtail dans la Politique d'Utilisation des Cookies de Houzz. I wouldn't give up on your sweetspires, though. I have 9 Scentlandia. I want to put something , not to tall, around my cement patio. They also suggested as an option pulling the plants and starting over again. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Native to the woodlands of eastern North America, it is a good choice for woodland borders. Intensely fragrant, star-shaped florets grow into plump, exotic 2-4" wands that appear on a 4-6' bush for many weeks in mid to late summer. The Best Deer Resistant Plants for Your Garden Itea virginica. The shallow root system is suckering and tends to form clumps. Its yellow fall color extends the season of interest. Once the roots became established, summersweet bush is somewhat drought tolerant, but avoid letting the soil dry out completely. 1. About 4 to 6 feet apart, depending on the size at maturity and the intended use. Thanks. The Garden wouldn't be the Garden without our Members, Donors and Volunteers. Enhancing the prolific floral display are lustrous green leaves that turn brilliant golden-yellow in fall. Compact habit is excellent for small gardens. Grows well in wet areas. The flowers are notable for their size, how late they bloom, and their ability to bloom even in the shade. The foliage is a nice bright green in summer. Little Henry Sweetspire. Tolerates full shade. Dig a hole that is at least twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: Plants, Design Ideas, Gardening Solutions & More! Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird' (Summersweet) is a gorgeous, compact, slowly spreading, deciduous shrub that features bottlebrush spikes of extremely fragrant white flowers which bloom for 4-6 weeks in mid to late summer. It is a rounded, suckering, densely-branched, deciduous shrub that typically grows to 3-6 (less frequently to 8) tall and is noted for producing a mid to late summer bloom of sweetly fragrant white flowers which appear in narrow, upright panicles (racemes to 2-6" long). Itea is one of the few shrubs that will still flower reasonably well even in shade. Grows up to 2-3 ft. tall and wide (60-90 cm). We sniffed dozens of different sweetspires in pursuit of the most fragrant variety, and we can say with confidence that we've found it in Scentlandia itea. Effective in mass, mixed into perennial borders or along foundations. All Rights Reserved. If desired, fertilize in spring with a granular fertilizer formulated for trees and shrubs, like a rose fertilizer. If your site already is morning sun and afternoon shade, I'd try digging the plants and replanting into improved soil (see above). Finally, give the plants a good soaking and try to keep them damp throughout at least this first summer. Native to swampy woodlands and marshes, clethra flourish in wet ground and will even tolerate standing water, making them a good choice for low-lying areas of the garden.
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