Itea

( IT - ee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Itea, also called Sweetspire, is a genus of evergreen, semi-evergreen and deciduous shrubs. Itea have catkin-looking flower clusters that in some varieties hang from the plant, giving it a willow feel. Blooms are small but fragrant, appearing in elongated clusters and attracting bees and butterflies. Sweetspire shrubs sucker freely, and will eventually form thickets if suckers are not removed.

Itea Species and Varietals

The genus Itea includes 10 species and is a member of the plant family Iteaceae. The best growing zones for Itea vary by species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Itea ilicifolia (Hollyleaf Sweetspire)
These shrubs are evergreen and native to China. They are happiest in zones 4-9 and 14-24, and have graceful open habits reaching 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide. Leaves start out bronze and age to glossy and dark green. White flower clusters are lightly fragrant and bloom in autumn. Needs partial shade in hot climates.
Itea virginica (Virginia Willow, Virginia Sweetspire)
This deciduous species grows in zones 2b-6 and 15-17. Spreads by suckers and is native to the Southeastern United States. Long, dark green leaves turn colors in fall. Creamy white summer flowers are fragrant and form in clusters. This species has a more upright habit than Itea ilicifolia. More compact varieties are available and are listed below.
'Henry's Garnet'
3-4 feet tall and wide, great variety with purple-red fall foliage. 
'Merlot'
3 feet tall and wide, rich fall foliage.
'Scarlet Beauty'
3-4 feet tall and wide, with orange-red fall foliage. 
'Little Henry'
2 feet tall and wide.

Caring for and pruning Itea shrubs

These easy-care shrubs thrive in wet, shady woodland areas near waterways but can take full sun as well. In the warmest climates, they will need at least afternoon shade. For best blooms and fall foliage color, plant in an area that gets at least 4-6 hours of sunlight each day. These shrubs can survive in any type of soil, as long as it is kept relatively moist, but do prefer an acidic soil that is humus-rich. Plant in spring or fall for best results. 

Pruning is not necessary for these arching plants, but can be completed if the plant needs to be rejuvenated or to remove dead, diseased or errant branches. The best time for pruning Sweetspire is in early or mid-summer, right after blooms fade. Pruning to shape can be done as well at this time, but take care not to remove more than a third of top growth. In older plants, remove one or two of the oldest branches to rejuvenate. Fertilize 3-4 times per year with a balanced, water soluble fertilizer between late April and the middle of July.

Propagation

Itea can be propagated by using cuttings, through division or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Sweetspire shrub, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Itea by Division
Division is probably the easiest way to propagate these plants. The idea behind this method is that you are taking an existing clump of live plants and breaking it into smaller segments. Division should be attempted only when the plant is not in its blooming period. To use this method, you will need a clean shovel, clean pruning saw, extra pots if you are not going to immediately plant your divisions in the ground, and well-draining soil to fill the pots (again, if you will not be planting your divisions directly into the ground). To propagate by division, follow the instructions below:
  1. Identify the area of plants you're going to divide. Start by loosening the soil around the plant with your shovel, working your way inward to avoid causing damage to the roots. Once you've gotten your clump out of the ground, lay it out on its side.
  2. Divide the clump into segments, either with your shovel or with a pruning saw, as many as you'd like as long as there are at least three 'shoots' per segment. Lay them out on the ground.
  3. If you will be planting your Itea in the ground, this is when you'll prepare your new hole. Dig a hole (large enough to accommodate the root ball of the clump you are planting) in the ground with your shovel in a sunny location with soil that is well-draining. If you have issues with drainage in your garden, amend with loamy soil before planting. Backfill and water generously.
  4. If you are transporting your division elsewhere, or hanging on to it until you're ready to plant it, you'll need your pot filled with soil. Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the root ball of your division, and place your new plant in the soil. Water generously, ensuring that adequate drainage is occurring. Place the pot in a sunny location until you are ready to plant it in the ground.

Propagating Itea by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
  2. May through September, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots. 
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Itea by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows. 
  2. Harvest your seeds. You'll know that your Sweetspire seed pods are ready to be harvested when they have browned and begun to open up. Cut them off of the plant at this time and place them in a paper bag to contain the seeds as the pods open.
  3. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Sweetspire seeds are contained inside seed pods that are left behind when the flowers fade. Once they've browned and dried up, they are ready to be harvested.
Sweetspire seeds are black and very tiny.

Problems and Pests

Itea shrubs are generally pest and disease-free, but they can suffer from:
  • Chlorosis
For more information on this issue, including how to treat it, see the following links:
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Gallery

Itea shrubs can add wonderful color to gardens in fall.
Bees love Sweetspire flowers.
Over time, these shrubs will form large colonies of plants.

Videos

All about Sweetspire.
A video all about a great variety of Itea, 'Henry's Garnet'.

Resources

Sweetspire Itea - Pruning, Winter Care and Fertilizing
Itea: A Guide for Growing Sweetspire
Itea Shrub - How to Care for Itea Sweetspire
Wikipedia: Itea virginica
Wikipedia: Itea ilicifolia
Wikipedia: Itea (plant)
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 382, Itea
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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