Here's what a colony of Virginia sweetspires should look like when not attacked by fungus or bugs. Features fragrant, tiny white flowers borne in cylindrical, drooping racemes (3-6" long) which cover the shrub with bloom in late spring to early summer. It can grow in both boggy ground, but can also handle periodic drought. The leaves have been getting black spots, and now my tree-care company told me they noticed scale insects. Little Henry Sweetspire. Has anyone found that the blooms attract lots of bees? Use it in massed plantings, mixed borders, and containers. Subscribe to PennLive. Prune the plant to improve the shape and reduce its size but, be careful not to remove more than 30% of the top growth. -Allan Armitage, Plants to know and grow, Fine Gardening issue #121 I'd improve the soil in the new location with an inch or two of compost worked into the loosened top 10 or 12 inches of existing soil. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. Let it delight you and your guests with its fireworks profusion of whimsical blooms in early summer. For one thing, they're survivors that'll often keep coming back year after year even though they're suffering disease or bug issues. Pronunciation: i-TE-a ver-JIN-i-ka. Especially if the grooming introduced in the second "How to handle it" box appeals to you, your Itea need never have an off-day, let alone the months of downtime grace we extend to plants whose annual peaks are fewer or more ephemeral. Twitter. Monrovia's Little Henry® Dwarf Virginia Sweetspire details and information. The shrub has a rounded habit and produces cylindrical drooping flowers (racemes) from late spring to mid-summer. Description. blooms in May. Embed. They also suggested as an option pulling the plants and starting over again. Little Henry is a useful native plant with lots of potential for the home landscape. Without them we wouldn't have many of the foods we enjoy. Itea virginica 'Henry's Garnet' Other names. Everything has to perform well without fussing or special fertilizer, cope with herds of deer and thick clay soil, and look good in the process. Will gradually colonize wider if you don’t sever root shoots. But the best part of this shrub may be the vivid foliage, With such a wide range to choose from, there’s a beautiful Japanese maple to suit almost any setting, Rosiness in the cool months and fragrant white flowers in spring help make this shrub a winner — and hummingbirds love it too, For a sweet spot of scarlet and orange in autumn, look to sourwood's foliage — but this tree offers interest the rest of the year too, Balance garden color with this shrub's cool blue-green foliage, luminous when backlit and sporting yellow-green flowers in spring, Versatile and easygoing, this tree puts on a guaranteed fall spectacle in the landscape, Sporting vivid shades of foliage, this drought-tolerant shrub fills a garden background or a vase with equal aplomb, Not everything in the garden sleeps in the cold — these plants rise and shine in fall and winter, bringing bright color to beat the blahs, Lush, vivid and a considerate provider of snacks for wildlife, this deciduous vine is especially spectacular in a fall garden, Small in stature but big on impact, this fuss-free shrub promises spring flowers, fiery fall color and good manners in the garden. 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The amsonia has tiny little blue flowers in spring. In the right conditions, it can spread and fill in quickly via suckering roots, making it good f… Save Comment 24 Like 12. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. You could also divide the plants if you'd like during the move. So yes the flowers will attract bees, as most flowers so. Typically grows 3-4' (less frequently to 5') tall with a similar spread. Requires little pruning or maintenance and attracts pollinators. * Size: Grows 3 to 4 feet tall and best kept to about 4 feet wide. It prefers moist soils and will tolerate wet conditions. Share. It will grow in full sun to full shade, and requires little pruning or other maintenance. To me the fall color is its top feature, so be sure to plant this where you can enjoy it at that time of year. That most likely would work, but if that's what you're going to have to do constantly to maintain a good-looking planting of sweetspires, that's when I'd give up and switch to fothergilla, summersweet, abelia, dwarf oakleaf hydrangea or another alternative. Little Henry® Virginia Sweetspire will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. Virginia willow is a member of the Grossulariaceae family, and native to the southeast United States. If you want more blooms in moist soil, daylilies (deer will eat), canna, Japanese or Siberian iris, or bee balm will work. Botanically named Itea virginica, Itea sweetspire has a rounded form when planted in sunny areas. Best flowering occurs with 4 hours of sun per day. The Scentlandia Sweetspire is a very versatile plant and one of the most fragrant sweetspire out there! I love to see the bees. Common Name: Virginia sweetspire . Monrovia's Henry's Garnet Sweetspire details and information. 'Little Henry' is a compact form of Virginia Sweetspire that has smaller, narrower leaves and smaller flower clusters and more slender stems. Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting gallery. It can form dense colonies by root suckering and can be used for erosion control in wet areas or on wet banks. We are just concerned that with young children who create lots of spills, attracting bees may not be somewhat we want. Botanical name. 'Little Henry' sweetspire is an unassuming deciduous shrub that quickly earned a place as one of my favorites. Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: No. Sweetspire 'Henry's Garnet', Tassel-white 'Henry's Garnet', Virginia sweetspire 'Henry's Garnet' Genus. Durable, cute Little Henry Sweetspire grows beautifully in full sun, partial sun or full shade. Synonyms: ‘Sprich’ Type: Broadleaf. Unless you know your children have an allergy to bee stings let them get stung once and then they will be more careful where they tread. We are thinking of planting Little Henry's along our new deck, but are concerned about them attracting bees. And if I battle the scales, how would I go about it? Print. Email. All rights reserved (About Us). Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. There is no room in my garden for prima donnas. More. Then watch for a return of the leaf-spotting and scale. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. Great Design Plant: 'Little Henry' Sweetspire Small in stature but big on impact, this fuss-free shrub promises spring flowers, fiery fall color and good manners in the garden. As for soil, it will grow in all kinds of soil, from wet to dry, but plants will be their most vigorous in soil with plenty of moisture. Bees don't sting unless you annoy them and the children were taught that a sting can hurt. Leaves are medium green in the summer, outer leaves turn bright red-purple in late fall, interior leaves turn shades of yellow and orange. The moderately growing Itea … Virginia Sweetspire prefers moist, rich, slightly acidic humusy soils in partial sun to partial shade, but tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and pHs. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. Plant this fast-growing vine to green up a blank spot, add fall color and offer berries for birds, Plant staghorn sumac for its wildlife value, beautiful fall color and bright red fruit that persists into winter, In eastern North America, plant gray dogwood for erosion control or privacy, and you'll get flowers, berries and maroon fall foliage too, Plant black chokeberry in moist sites in eastern U.S. gardens for colorful spring flowers, red fall foliage and dark blue berries, Plant blueberries in spring or fall for garden beauty through three seasons — and a sweet superfood in summer, It helps control erosion and takes sun or shade. Karen Chapman October 1, 2012. Type: Deciduous shrub Family: Iteaceae Zone: 5 to 9 Height: 1.50 to 2.00 feet Spread: 2.00 to 2.50 feet Bloom Time: June to July Bloom Description: White Sun: Full sun to part shade Water: Medium to wet Maintenance: Low Suggested Use: Hedge, Rain Garden. Itea virginica, commonly called Virginia sweetspire, is an erect, rounded, broad-spreading, deciduous shrub with arching branches. Q: My Virginia sweetspire plants have looked awful by summer's end the last two years. A: I've seen occasional fungal leaf-spotting on Virginia sweetspires, but scale attack isn't common. Then I'd look for an afternoon-shade location and transplant the stubby remnants and roots there. They open from the bottom up for a long-lasting display. We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant. You can have an antihistamine ready of course in your medicine cupboard. Which would you recommend? Genus: Itea. Plant your Little Henry Virginia Sweetspire bushes in a sunny or shady location; they will grow well in a wide range of light conditions, from full sun to full shade. Here's what a colony of Virginia sweetspires should look like when not attacked by fungus or bugs. Itea Itea. Companion plants. Proven Winners® selections are trialed and tested to be colorful, long blooming, carefree and easy to grow. Facebook. I wouldn't give up on your sweetspires, though. Itea virginica 'Sprich' LITTLE HENRY . Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (each updated 1/1/20). Back to Previous Page. I taught my own children from a very young age to 'look but don't touch without asking first'. Unless your children have known bee allergies I wouldn't be concerned. Full sun brings out the most intense fall color; combine it with other sun-loving shrubs and grasses to draw attention to this attribute. Good luck and enjoy the joys of teaching your children about the garden. If your site already is morning sun and afternoon shade, I'd try digging the plants and replanting into improved soil (see above). Sweetspires are supposedly versatile and not picky about soil, but I see them doing best in damp soil that's well drained, rich in organic matter, and sited in morning sun and afternoon shade. Family: Grossulariaceae. Locate the Itea shrub in moist to wet soils in a part shade to full sun area for fragrant racemes of 4-inch (10 cm.) On older plants some of the heaviest cains can be removed to increase vigor. I planted clover in my lawns for the bees and my grandchildren run all over it with bare feet playing when they are staying with me. Please support high-quality local journalism. So versatile; Itea Little Henry is perfect for smaller borders, grouped or massed on a large bank or the fresh white flowers will brighten a woodland garden. Itea virginica 'Little Henry' has the potential to elicit both close-at-hand study as well pleasing "walking by" glances every day of the year. Itea virginica (Virginia Sweetspire) is an upright, rounded, deciduous shrub with arching branches boasting bottlebrush spikes, 4-6 in. Little Henry® Itea Plants produce masses of pure white flower spires in early summer and stunning hues of oranges and red foliage in the fall - what more could you possibly want? It is tolerant to shade and will thrive in the most wet soils. sweetspire.henry.hedge1.JPG. The first thing that occurs to me is that your plants are stressed in some way. That'll take the majority of scale insects and eggs along with it. The blooms are larger and more tolerant to colder climates than other sweetspires. The flowers are so profuse that they literally cover the shrub. Little Henry® Virginia Sweetspire will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. If needed, prune these early summer flowering shrubs soon after they have bloomed. Virginia sweetspire is a deciduous shrub with arching stems and alternate simple leaves that are oval in shape and dark green in color. All Plants » RPM Trees & Shrubs « Prev Plant | Next ... Itea virginica 'Little Henry' Little Henry Sweetspire White spring flower clusters; Dark green leaves turn deep red in fall; Superior performance to the native species; Height: 24-36 Inches Spread: 24-36 Inches Hardiness Zone: 5 - 9 Interesting Notes: 'Little Henry' is a shorter, more compact version of this cultivar. Itea virginica Little Henry® (Virginia Sweetspire) is a small, compact, deciduous shrub boasting bottlebrush spikes of lightly fragrant, creamy-white flowers in late spring to early summer. Itea virginica, the Virginia willow, or Virginia sweetspire is small North American flowering shrub of low woods and wetland margins. Lightly scented, pure white flowers shoot like fireworks from the glossy foliage in summer. The fall coloring will be strongest on plants in the sun. Native to the woodlands of eastern North America, it is a good choice for woodland borders. Like the popular ‘Henry’s Garnet’ Virginia sweetspire, Little Henry® has mildly fragrant white blooms in summer and red to orange leaf color in fall, but grows to just 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide. 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. Stressed plants are more likely to run into bug and disease problems than "happy" ones in soils, sites and weather they prefer. That went for plants, store displays and yes even insects. Likewise if they spill food or drink to clean up after themselves :) Guess I need to start over with grandchildren now!! (Sweetspire) LITTLE HENRY® Itea is a versatile, compact shrub that offers multi-season appeal. A Proven Winners ® ColorChoice ® best-seller, Little Henry ® sweetspire is a versatile native shrub that grows in full sun to full shade and thrives in moist soils. Sweetspire Itea – Pruning, Winter Care and Fertilizing. It's a good lesson for them to learn. The products I use - https://kit.com/HortTube This video is a detailed description of Little Henry® Itea (Dwarf Sweetspire). Many conventional nurseries sell this cultivar as the second most used cultivar after 'Henry's Garnet.' It prefers moist soils and will tolerate wet conditions. 270 locations nationwide! Deciduous shrub, small, 2-4 ft (0.6-1.2 m) tall, spreading. And you can be too careful I feel. Itea virginica has small flowers on pendulous racemes. I'd hate to give up on sweetspire because it's a pretty plant when it's healthy. This may sound drastic, but what I'd probably do in your case is whack back all growth to the ground and burn or get rid of the wood. 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