Itea virginica: Virginia Sweetspire

Latin name: Itea virginica
Common name: Virginia Sweetspire
Flowers: Fragrant, white, showy flowers that create a drooping raceme 3 to 6 inches long. Bloom in late spring to early summer¹²
Fruit: Small copper capsules arranged in drooping racemes. Showy, and edible during late summer to early fall^12,13
Height & Width: 3- 5 ft H by 3-5 ft W¹².
Type: Deciduous perennial shrub ¹⁶
Habit: Dense, well rounded, and arching ⁴
Wetland indicator category**: FACW & OBL ¹⁷
Texture: Medium ¹⁶
Growth rate: Slow to medium ¹⁶
Light: Part shade ⁴
Moisture: Medium, occasionally wet soil. Good drainage, and tolerant of standing water^13,16
Soil*:Prefers high organic matter, and pH ranges between 6 – 8¹³
Zones: 5-9 ¹³
Origin: Southern United States ¹⁶
Ecosystem benefits: Long fragrant flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators. Fruit and seeds are food for small birds. The ability to grow in wet ponds, and marshes provides shelter for smaller mammals^12,13.
Features: This native species offers multi season allure, with little maintenance. This plant accepts wide ranges of soil quality, and is tolerant to standing water and pests^13,16. During spring and early summer, small white flowers are produced on long drooping racemes, to create a showy overall appearance¹².These fragrant flowers also attract insects and pollinators¹³ In the fall, the racemes turn to copper capsules with edible seeds, that provide food for birds¹². The foliage on this plant also offers attraction because the oval, dark green leaves turn various shades of red and gold during the fall¹³.

Siting: For year-round visual appeal, this dense and well-rounded shrub should be planted in a well shaded, and occasionally wet soil location¹³. Common ornamental landscape uses are as border shrubs, and hedges in large groups, because just one plant can become scraggly¹². For a natural aesthetic, the advantage of water tolerance can be implemented in ponds, riverbanks, and marsh settings to act as a wildlife food source, and source of attraction during multiple seasons^10,12.

Care: Plant so crown/root flare is visible at soil surface¹⁴. At planting, water the root ball daily with two gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter for two weeks, every other day for two months and then weekly until established. Modify water recommendations to reflect site drainage and rainfall. Apply 3” of mulch over the planted area. Do not allow mulch to touch the crown/trunk¹⁴.

Pests: Plants are relatively pest resistant if cultural preferences are met¹².

This plant does not appear on the following invasive plant lists on 03/01/2022:
USDA SC Invasive Plant Species
SC Exotic Plant Pest Council

Author: Molly McKay

Image source: https://nathandewberrydotorg.wordpress.com/2014/09/05/virginia-sweetspire-itea-virginica/

Sources:

1. Armitage, A. (2001). Armitage’s manual of annuals, biennials, and half-hardy perennials. Portland, OR: Timber Press.
2. Armitage, A. (2006). Armitage’s native plants for North American gardens. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press.
3. Armitage, A. (2008). Herbaceous perennial plants: A treatise on their identification, culture, and garden attributes. Athens, GA: University of Georgia.
4. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.(2011). Flowers fact sheets. Retrieved from http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/landscape/ flowers/
5. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.(2011). Groundcovers & vines fact sheets. Retrieved from http://www.clemson.edu/ extension/hgic/plants/landscape/groundcovers/
6. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.(2011). Trees. Retrieved from http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/ plants/landscape/trees/
7. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.(2011). Shrubs. Retrieved from http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/landscape/shrubs/
8. Dirr, M. A. (2009). Manual of woody landscape plants. Champaign, IL: Stipes Publishing.
9. Gilman, E. F. (1997). Trees for urban and suburban landscapes. Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers.
10. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center University of Texas at Austin. (2012). Native plant information network. Retrieved from http://www.wildflower.org/explore/
11. McMillan, P., Plant taxonomist Clemson University, personal communication.
12. Missouri Botanical Garden Kemper Center for Home Gardening. Plant finder. Retrieved from http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Alpha.asp
13. North Carolina State University (2005). Plant fact sheets. Retrieved from http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/index.html
14. Strother, E. V., Ham, D. L., Gilland, L. (2003) Urban tree species guide: Choosing the right tree for the right place.  Columbia, SC: South Carolina Forestry Commission.
15. University of Florida, IFAS Extension. (2011). Southern trees fact sheet. Retrieved from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/department_envhort-trees
16. USDA . Plant profile. (n/d).Retrieved from http://plants.usda.gov/java/
17. USDA. Plant wetland indicator status. (n/d). Retrieved from http://plants.usda.gov/wetland.html
18. Vincent, E., Environmental horticulturist Clemson University, personal communication.
19. Clemson Extension. Carolina Yards Plant Database. Retrieved from https://www.clemson.edu/extension/carolinayards/plant-database/index.htm

*Soil pH is determined using a professional soil test. Contact your Clemson University County Extension service for assistance www.clemson.edu/extension/. Click on “local offices”.

**2012 Plant Wetland Indicator categories (quantitative derived) http://plants.usda.gov/wetinfo.html

Plant Wetland Indicator categories

Indicator Code	Indicator Status	Comment
OBL	Obligate Wetland	Almost always is a hydrophyte, rarely in uplands
FACW	Facultative Wetland	Usually is a hydrophyte but occasionally found in uplands
FAC	Facultative	Commonly occurs as either a hydrophyte or non-hydrophyte
FACU	Facultative Upland	Occasionally is a hydrophyte but usually occurs in uplands
UPL	Obligate Upland	Rarely is a hydrophyte, almost always in uplands