Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 20+ Rain Garden Plants Best all around shrub in my opinion. I am adding an iron product to the soil and hope that it improves the health of the plants. Itea needs little maintenance. Sign up for a free trial and get access to ALL our regional content, plus the rest Suggested Use: Hedge, Naturalize, Rain Garden, Tolerate: Heavy Shade, Erosion, Clay Soil, Wet Soil. Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. It likes humusy soils, so mixing in compost before planting is a good idea. Root greenwood cuttings in early summer. I'm starting to see some of the red fall color! Then when you're not expecting anything more, green summer foliage changes to a brilliant multitude of oranges and reds in the fall, making Little Henry a rewarding experience through out all seasons. Summersweet is a versatile shrub that thrives in most climates and is suitable as a specimen plant or a hedge. They suggested cutting back at least the older, thicker stems to the ground. 2023 Proven Winners North America LLC. Sweetspire is an easy-care shrub, about four feet by four feet (1.2 by 1.2 meters) at maturity that isn't fussy about soil or weather conditions. The spires came and went and absolutely no smell at all. 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. To use the website as intended please One of its most attractive characteristics is to produce great blooms in shady locations. Tolerates full shade. 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. Its small stature makes it a nice choice for adding color and scent to perennial gardens. 20 Fragrant Flowering Plants There is also at least one dwarf clethra available. Also only grows to 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide, so it can be placed in almost any corner of the landscape without overcrowding other plants! Browse reviews from people who have grown this plant. 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. No serious insect or disease problems. 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. More about the newsletter. Plant in spring after the ground thaws or in early fall before it freezes. Gorgeous little plant. Wandering roots and stems can easily be chopped off and transplanted. | Letter from the Editor, Watch Out for New Garden Pests Heading This Way, Designing a Beautiful Back BorderPlanting Plan. This was a big selling point for me and I would have chosen something else for the area of my garden where I was really looking forward to the scent. It will come back strong in the spring. Though the plant can be started indoors, once a root system is established in the container, it needs to go into the ground to thrive. Tolerates clay soils. In fall, the leaves turn an attractive yellow. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. To create an idea board, sign in or create an account. Shady conditions may limit the flower production and mute the autumn color. Be inspired with our Gardener's Idea Book and Winner's Circle newsletter, Little Henry - Sweetspire - Itea virginica. I want to be able to see over the plants if I want to sit out on my patio. This is a good plant for woodland gardens or at the front of the mixed border. May be pruned after blooming if required. Sunlight is also a requirement, as these shrubs need full sun as well as slightly acidic soil to achieve the best results. I would re-purchase based on the fall interest alone. It also attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. The foliage of the Little Henry Sweetspire is stunning. Grow taller varieties as hedges or privacy screens or as a backdrop in a perennial garden. Little Henry Sweetspire. A compact cultivar bearing large clusters of clove-scented white flowers that are irresistible to bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. I did and found LOTS of scales up and down the stems. I purchased 6 of these and absolutely love them. 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. There's no need for cold stratification to germinate. Compact size makes this an ideal flowering shrub for smaller gardens. Work in a bit of pelleted sulfur or organic matter, such as sawdust or leaves. Summersweet typically spreads to 4 to 6 feet and forms an oval shape. ), that might be the right one. Noteworthy Characteristics. less likely to get leggy, bloom better) than the other. Best Flowering Shrubs for Season-Long Color A wonderful native plant from Mark Griffith, and our favorite Sweetspire for color and habit. David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience. Cookies, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice' (Summersweet), Clethra alnifolia 'Caleb' VANILLA SPICE' (Summersweet), Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum' (Solomon's Seal), Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola' (Hakone Grass), Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) 'James Compton' (Baneberry), Great Shrubs with Brilliant Fall Color for New England Gardens, Best Shrubs as Companion Plants for Azaleas and Rhododendrons, Want Garden Inspiration? I've seen some new growth in the month or so since planted. If desired, fertilize in spring with a granular fertilizer formulated for trees and shrubs, like a rose fertilizer. The flowers give way to spikes of dark brown fruits which persist into winter, providing continuing interest. It is also wet site tolerant. Little Henry is a useful native plant with lots of potential for the home landscape. Serrate, obovate to oblong, glossy dark green leaves (to 3-4 long) turn variable but generally attractive shades of yellow to golden brown in fall. Summersweet is 3 to 10 feet tall and 3 to 8 feet wide at maturity. Plant near a patio or other outdoor living space to fully enjoy the sweet-smelling flowers. BEST SMELL,I have it at my front porch. Root suckering will be most prevalent with shrubs planted in wet ground. Flowers are very attractive to butterflies and bees.Genus name comes from the Greek klethra the name for alder of which the leaves resemble.Specific epithet means leaves like alder.Ruby Spice is most noted for its fragrant rose-pink flowers that bloom in late summer. It is also a delightful addition to the mixed border. 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. Only plants will be removed from the collection. I would another, If i had space for it. I planted two of the LIttle Henry shrubs in a western exposure that gets afternoon sun and heat. The shrub has a rounded habit and produces cylindrical drooping flowers (racemes) from late spring to mid-summer. Virginia sweetspire grows quite well in very hot conditions, provided it gets plenty of water. Spider mites may be a concern in dry conditions. Growing Zones: 5-9 Proven Winners. I have clethra in sun here in Georgia and it does fine and flowers heavily. Thanks. Two fragrant and vigorous climbing plants for a spectacular With its rich purple blooms, Clematis Etoile Violette' is a Use our interactive toolsto design your dream garden. Summersweet plants usually grow 4-9ft (1.2-2.7m) tall and about 6ft (1.8m) wide, although they may spread into a mounded clump if allowed to sucker. Prune if needed in late winter. Virginia sweetspire does well during the winter, though those in colder climates might see some dieback of the tips of the shrub during the harsh cold. 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. The seed capsules turn brown and persist on the plant in . I have a grouping of Little Henry Sweetspire right near my patio and love it. 2023 Proven Winners North America LLC. Opening from bottom to top, they are very attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, at a time of the year when there's not a wealth of nectars to choose from. 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. Being a water-loving plant, it works well at the edges of ponds, streams, and marshy areas. Spikes of highly fragrant flowers bloom on the current season's woody stems in mid-summer. Though this native plant is much beloved for its sweetly scented summer blooms, not all plants exhibit equally strong fragrance, so it was our primary goal in introducing our next variety. Because it blooms on old wood (previous year's growth), pruning should be done immediately after blooming so that the plant can develop the wood necessary for next year's blooms. In colder areas, sweetspire may experience a bit of weather damage coming out of winter, so prune any dead wood out after new growth has begun. To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of our site. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas. I plan to buy at least three more. Its branches are dense, making it suitable for hedges or privacy screens (best in summer, of course). Flowers give way to dark brown seed capsules (1/8" diameter) which may persist into winter. 1. Red and Black Chokeberry. One of the largest summersweet cultivars, featuring rose-colored buds that gradually soften to pale pink as the flowers open and mature. 9. All Rights Reserved. She is a former Clemson University Extension Agent. A versatile shrub for shrub borders, open woodland gardens, foundations . It prefers moist soils and will tolerate wet conditions. If I had more room in the garden I'd definitely buy more. Vanilla Spice summersweet (Clethra alnifolia)Photo by: Proven Winners. My ilex cornuta shrubs (trees?) Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. They bloomed in 2019 no fragrance detected. About the bees, well anything with flowers will have bees temporarily. To get your plant off to a good start, work some organic matter into the soil and cover the root zone with a layer of mulch to help keep the soil cool and moist. I wouldn't give up on your sweetspires, though. Virginia sweetspire is a deciduous shrub with arching stems and alternate simple leaves that are oval in shape and dark green in color. They also suggested as an option pulling the plants and starting over again. Both plants attact large numbers of bees, something I consider a plus for the gardens and the ecology in general, but if bees are a problem for you, then you won't want these plants. Bury the seed one inch in the soil and keep it moist. Native to the woodlands of eastern North America, it is a good choice for woodland borders. Find out where you fall in the USDA Hardiness Zones database. Summersweet spreads slowly by suckering roots and will colonize over time. Summersweet tolerates clay soil and full shade. Q: My Virginia sweetspire plants have looked awful by summer's end the last two years. For one thing, they're survivors that'll often keep coming back year after year even though they're suffering disease or bug issues. Is blooming and starting to increase in Best Flowering Shrubs for Season-Long Color, The Best Deer Resistant Plants for Your Garden, Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, Dark brown seed pods (similar in appearance to peppercorns) provide winter interest. The flowers are produced on vertical flower spikes about 6 inches long that protrude from the glossy green foliage. They were dormant when I got them. It is a bright green in the spring and summer and turns orange and red in the fall. Remove lower leaves on the cuttings, dip the ends in rooting hormone, and tuck into a mixture of half perlite and half potting soil. This compact selection reaches 3 to 5 feet tall. Itea virginica. This plant is best grown in full sun, part shade or full shade in average, medium to wet, slightly acid, well-drained soils. Summersweet, or Clethra alnifolia, is a shrub that can tolerate areas of standing water and still thrive. Severe cases can kill the plant. Ideally, plant these shrubs in a spot that receives morning sun and afternoon shade. Itea is one of the few shrubs that will still flower reasonably well even in shade. Also appropriate for moist soils along stream banks or pond/water garden peripheries. Feed these plants each spring with a balanced granular fertilizer mixed into the soil. Water these shrubs quite often when they are young and getting established, then weekly when they mature (one inch per week). Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device. Grows up to 2-3 ft. tall and wide (60-90 cm). To form solid hedges, space plants a distance equal to their mature width. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. I have 9 Scentlandia. I planted this spring. They will tolerate short periods of drought but perform best when they receive regular water. Not fussy about soil pH. We'll see if they make it. So far, the plant is doing very well. In fall, the leaves turn an attractive yellow. Choose Options. Summersweets are somewhat unique among flowering shrubs because of their ability to bloom in shady locations in late summer when few other shrubs are in bloom. Enhancing the prolific floral display are lustrous green leaves that turn brilliant golden-yellow in fall. However, it might develop flea beetles or leaf spot.
summersweet vs sweetspire