Summersweet spreads slowly by suckering roots and will colonize over time. As summer progresses shiny, disease-free foliage appears until fall when the foliage turns a stunning garnet-red. Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device. 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. A sharp spade can be used to cut away a section of the root ball around the edge, which can be replanted wherever you want it. You can deadhead to remove flowers past their prime, but otherwise, you can usually just leave this shrub alone unless you desire a neatly groomed look. Grows well in wet areas. . One of its most attractive characteristics is to produce great blooms in shady locations. Has few insect or disease problems, with the exception of spider mites, which are more common when plants are stressed by hot, dry conditions. In a partial shade spot, another clethra does not flower nearly as well. Root suckering will be most prevalent with shrubs planted in wet ground. 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. Get daily tips & tricks to help make your best home, How to Grow Virginia Sweetspire From Seed, Potting and Repotting Virginia Sweetspire. Once the roots are in place, you can move it out to the landscape. Growing Zones: 3-8 . The Best Deer Resistant Plants for Your Garden Make sure there are other plants around, as the plant will look bare until the leaves appear at the end of spring. It will grow in full sun to full shade, and requires little pruning or other maintenance. It prefers moist soils and will tolerate wet conditions. It also attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. I never pruned them at any point. Read our. Common Name: sweet pepperbush Type: Deciduous shrub Family: Clethraceae Zone: 4 to 8 Height: 4.00 to 6.00 feet Spread: 3.00 to 5.00 feet Bloom Time: July to August Bloom Description: Rose pink Sun: Full sun to part shade Water: Medium to wet Maintenance: Low Suggested Use: Hedge, Naturalize, Rain Garden Flower: Showy, Fragrant Leaf: Good Fall 'Little Henry' might work. Red and Black Chokeberry. I am adding an iron product to the soil and hope that it improves the health of the plants. Water seedlings as needed, then plant when they're sturdy. 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. Growing Zones: 5-9 Proven Winners. 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. Water these shrubs quite often when they are young and getting established, then weekly when they mature (one inch per week). Create long-lasting, pleasing contrasts in your garden. Their scent will hang beautifully in the air! In fall, the leaves turn an attractive yellow. In spring, after new growth begins to emerge, you can remove any stems that aren't showing signs of life - do not prune until you see signs of new growth. Promptly remove root suckers unless naturalized look is desired. Available in better garden centers in spring 2019. Control can be as simple as spraying the leaves (front and back) with water to knock them off, though further intervention with horticultural oils may be needed if mites are persistent. Copyright 2023. Virginia sweetspire grows quite well in very hot conditions, provided it gets plenty of water. Get the latest how-to and design inspiration articles plus special offers sent straight to your inbox. In summer, Sixteen Candles is topped with aromatic, erect, butterfly-enticing white blooms for 4 to 6 weeks. To reverse this problem, it's important to make the soil more acidic. 'Sixteen Candles' is a compact rounded shrub growing slowly to 4-5 feet high and 2-3 feet wide and is suitable for borders, screens or as a specimen plant. A wonderful native plant from Mark Griffith, and our favorite Sweetspire for color and habit. May be pruned after blooming if required. The foliage is a nice bright green in summer. There's no need for cold stratification to germinate. Thrives in moist, wet areas, but once established, can tolerate dry conditions. I'm printing it all off so I can refer to it.Tammy. Will grow in shade, but flowering and fall color improves when the plant gets at least some sun each day. Feed these plants each spring with a balanced granular fertilizer mixed into the soil. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Itea virginica, commonly called Virginia sweetspire, is an erect, rounded, broad-spreading, deciduous shrub with arching branches. I have clethra in sun here in Georgia and it does fine and flowers heavily. Bed. 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. Features fragrant, tiny white flowers borne in cylindrical, drooping racemes (3-6" long) which cover the shrub . My ilex cornuta shrubs (trees?) Here are ideas for taking advantage of its many attributes: RELATED: Propagate by cuttings. It enjoys excellent resistance to insects and diseases. Such dieback in winter means the loss of some of the flower buds that produce blooms in spring. Enhancing the prolific floral display are lustrous green leaves that turn brilliant golden-yellow in fall. Grow taller varieties as hedges or privacy screens or as a backdrop in a perennial garden. 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. ProblemsFungal dieback and root rot can occur. PropagationSow seed at 43 to 54F in spring or autumn. They also suggested as an option pulling the plants and starting over again. Summersweet. Mary has been a Master Gardener for 30+ years and a commercial and residential gardener for 50+ years. That'll take the majority of scale insects and eggs along with it. Place your shrub in the hole, gently spreading out the roots, and then backfill to ground level and water well. Best all around shrub in my opinion. However, it might develop flea beetles or leaf spot. I planted this spring. Spread 2-3 Feet Wide. | Letter from the Editor, Watch Out for New Garden Pests Heading This Way, Designing a Beautiful Back BorderPlanting Plan. Perfectly suited for covering large banks, beds and borders. 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. They suggested cutting back at least the older, thicker stems to the ground. Severe cases can kill the plant. The foliage is a nice bright green in summer. The flowers give way to spikes of dark brown fruits which persist into winter, providing continuing interest. 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. Summersweet prefers moist soil and even grows well in areas with standing water. Garden Uses: Sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia), also called summersweet, is a Maryland native plant found in forested wetlands, floodplains, and swamps. Clay and wet soil tolerant. As colorful as burning bush, but native to North America and pollinator friendly! When the root system is well-established and trying to fight its way out of the container, it's time to plant it in the landscape. I planted two of the LIttle Henry shrubs in a western exposure that gets afternoon sun and heat. Prune as needed to maintain the desired shape and remove dead, diseased, and damaged branches. 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. If your site already is morning sun and afternoon shade, I'd try digging the plants and replanting into improved soil (see above). Summersweet is hard to transplant and slow to recover from transplanting. PropagationTake greenwood cuttings in early summer. Tolerates clay soils. 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. Full shade is tolerated. Typically grows 3-4' (less frequently to 5') tall with a similar spread. Be inspired with our Gardener's Idea Book and Winner's Circle newsletter, Little Henry - Sweetspire - Itea virginica. Warmer climates call for more shade. Does well in sun or shade, dry or wet soil, all types of soil (normal, clay or sandy) & nice red fall color! He's planted in a alkaline soil with some shade. We use cookies on this website, you can read about them here. They can be planted immediately, or the following spring. Use clean garden shears to cut 3- to 4-inch cuttings, taken in the morning, from well-established healthy plants. 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. If I had more room in the garden I'd definitely buy more. Sign up for a free trial and get access to ALL our regional content, plus the rest Flowers give way to dark brown seed capsules (1/8" diameter) which may persist into winter. Create appealing and long-lasting planting judywhite / GardenPhotos.com, Botanik Foto. (George Weigel) Q: My Virginia sweetspire plants have looked awful by summer's end the last two. They were purchased at 3 different times of the year from 2 different sellers in spring 2019. Here's what a colony of Virginia sweetspires should look like when not attacked by fungus or bugs. This Sugartina has fragrant white flowers that appear by mid-summer. Easily grown in average, medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. About the bees, well anything with flowers will have bees temporarily. Its small size makes it perfect for smaller borders and beds. Clethra alnifolia, commonly called summersweet, is a deciduous shrub that is native to swampy woodlands, wet marshes, stream banks and seashores, often in sandy soils, along the coast from Maine to Florida and west to Texas. Stay ahead of any root-suckering that may occur if you do not wish for the bushes to spread. Its mounded, compact stature makes it an improvement over older varieties such as the old favorite 'Henry's Garnet'. In June and July, sweetspire bears lovely spikes of fragrant, white blossoms. Does anybody grow Moonlight in paris or tamora rose? Consistent moisture in well-draining soil is a must. Spring 2020, bloomed nicely but still no scent detected, even up close. In fall, the leaves turn an attractive yellow. For one thing, they're survivors that'll often keep coming back year after year even though they're suffering disease or bug issues. There could be several reasons why your Virginia sweetspire isn't blooming, and the first of those reasons is waternot nearly enough of it. She has 30+ years of experience with year-round organic gardening; seed starting and saving; growing heirloom plants, perennials, and annuals; and sustainable and urban farming. One of the darkest pink-flowered cultivars, flaunting deep rosy pink flowers notable for retaining their color intensity without fading. less likely to get leggy, bloom better) than the other. About 4 to 6 feet apart, depending on the size at maturity and the intended use. This plant can work in a variety of soil pHs, types, and moisture levels. Definitely loved by the deer and it colonizes out of control. Also the facts that should be considered when making a choice:-itea could tolerate both, full sun and part-shade, while clethra prefer to be in a more shady locations,-fall foliage of itea is very attractive crimson-burgundy, while clethra's is yellow-bronze,-itea blooms on old wood and could be/should be pruned if necessary right after the bloom, clethra blooms on a new wood and could be/should be pruned in early spring,-itea leafs out early, while clethra stays 'naked' till May. The plant belongs to one of only two genera in the Clethraceae (white alder) family, with Purdiaea being the other genus. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. The shrub has a rounded habit and produces cylindrical drooping flowers (racemes) from late spring to mid-summer. Keeping a Virginia sweetspire in a container for the first season is entirely possible. So, I'm only rating this plant as satisfactory. Accept Wow, So much info. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Attracts butterflies. Get daily tips & tricks to help make your best home, How to Grow and Care for Japanese Barberry, How to Grow and Care for Mexican Bush Sage, How to Grow and Care for Kohuhu (Pittosporum tenuifolium), How to Grow and Care for Chinese Snowball Viburnum, How to Grow and Care for Rockspray Cotoneaster, Summersweet, sweet pepperbush, clethra, coastal sweet pepperbush, poor man's soap. Is blooming and starting to increase in They were both planted on a small slope, with sun until early afternoon, and have been absolutely great the entire time. A: I've seen occasional fungal leaf-spotting on Virginia sweetspires, but scale attack isn't common. Vanessa Richins Myers has a BS in horticulture and over 10 years of training and experience as a professional horticulturist and gardener. During the late summer or early fall, collect the small brown seed pods from the plant. All Rights Reserved. Sugartina 'Crystalina' Buy now from Proven Winners. 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. It is also a delightful addition to the mixed border. Sign up for a free trial and get access to ALL our regional content, plus the rest The spires came and went and absolutely no smell at all. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. We'll see how the plants perform Spring and Summer before making a final decision on the plants. I'm in zone 5, mid Missouri. This shrub flowers on new wood, so pruning for shape is best done in spring. A good choice for smaller gardens and tight spaces. Several popular cultivars of Virginia Sweetspire are available, including: You can prune Virginia sweetspire to shape it or control its size, but pruning is not otherwise necessary. Je peux rejeter les cookies non essentiels en cliquant sur Grer mes prfrences . That way you get blooms and fragrance at different points of the summer, and the great fall foliage of the sweetspire. All rights reserved (About Us). Sunlight is also a requirement, as these shrubs need full sun as well as slightly acidic soil to achieve the best results. To create an idea board, sign in or create an account. Store them in a sealed container, tucked away in the refrigerator until spring rolls around. It is also wet site tolerant. Open them up and remove the seeds. Thanks. Top reasons to grow Scentlandia sweetspire: - More fragrant than other sweetspire varieties, - Better bud hardiness means better performance in USDA zones 5 and 6, - One of the most shade tolerant flowering shrubs. It was discovered in 1992 as a sport of C. alnifolia Pink Spire. In spite of the information that says it is not picky about pH conditions, it needs iron to do well in SE Wisconsin, where we have lime based soil. Nice plant for an area you want to be filled in away from the house where deer are not a problem. 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. Plant near a patio to enjoy the fragrant late summer bloom. Politique d'Utilisation des Cookies de Houzz. are just awful for about a week each year thanks to the bees. Find locations near you that offer Proven Winners products. | Letter from the Editor, Watch Out for New Garden Pests Heading This Way, Designing a Beautiful Back BorderPlanting Plan. Dig a hole that is at least twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Get complete site access to expert advice, regional content, and more, plus the print magazine. 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). They were dormant when I got them. As noted by others it depends on your preferred features. Sweetspire Itea virginica 'Merlot' is a Sweetspire with fragrant white flowers in June and has the most compact habit of our Iteas, with burgundy fall foliage. 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). It enjoys, Promptly remove root suckers unless a naturalized look is desired. Summersweet is a medium-sized deciduous shrub that adds color and fragrance to your garden with its late-summer blooms. I plan to buy at least three more. 3 5 comments Best Add a Comment halfbajan 2 yr. ago Hi there! Thanks. As of August 2020, they have gotten larger over the course of the year and put out upward branches in a loose open habit but also runners underground. Get the latest how-to and design inspiration articles plus special offers sent straight to your inbox. ), that might be the right one. This plant is best grown in full sun to part shade in average, medium to wet, acidic, sandy soils. I have a grouping of Little Henry Sweetspire right near my patio and love it. 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 seeds are easy to plant and they germinate quickly; seeds can be harvested in autumn and have no specific storage needs. My understanding is both summersweet and virginia sweetspire would be good potential candidates for this location, but was wondering if one would be better suited (i.e. 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). Merlot is named for its fall color which is dark red and persists into winter. Scentlandia sweetspire delivers on all three! Remove lower leaves on the cuttings, dip the ends in rooting hormone, and tuck into a mixture of half perlite and half potting soil. In such climates, plant it along woodland edges where it gets partial shade, which will help the plants stay cool and thrive. Loaded with fragrant blooms every spring which last into summer - always evoking comments from visitors. * Required | We will never sell or distribute your email to any other parties or organizations. I'd hate to give up on sweetspire because it's a pretty plant when it's healthy. Summersweet is 3 to 10 feet tall and 3 to 8 feet wide at maturity. And if I battle the scales, how would I go about it? Choose Options. A broad, upright habit makes it well-suited for use as a fragrant hedge or privacy screen. She is a former Clemson University Extension Agent. 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. Its yellow fall color extends the season of interest. Choose Options. Not fussy about soil pH. The first thing that occurs to me is that your plants are stressed in some way. The Latin name for summersweet is Clethra alnifolia. Full Shade to Full Sun. Ruby Spice grows to about 4 to 6 feet tall and almost as wide, making this shrub suitable for a bed or border, a woodland or shade garden, or a waterside planting. Root greenwood cuttings in early summer. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The shrub grows best in partial shade and a moist, slightly acid soil. This plant is best grown in full sun, part shade or full shade in average, medium to wet, slightly acid, well-drained soils. When the pH of the soil creeps above 7.0, Virginia sweetspire is prone to developing chlorosis. Find out where you fall in the USDA Hardiness Zones database. Summersweet typically spreads to 4 to 6 feet and forms an oval shape. Bury the seed one inch in the soil and keep it moist. Finally, give the plants a good soaking and try to keep them damp throughout at least this first summer. Water regularly to keep the soil moist, especially during the first growing season. Browse reviews from people who have grown this plant. Plant Scentlandia itea near a window or outdoor area where you can enjoy its fragrance. A dwarf summersweet shrub with fragrant white flowers and a dense, rounded shape. We'll see if they make it. Height 2.5-3 Feet Tall. Its branches are dense, making it suitable for hedges or privacy screens (best in summer, of course). They will tolerate short periods of drought but perform best when they receive regular water. Itea virginica. Great for grouping and for massing on large banks, in beds, and perennial and shrub borders. Photo by: Tim Ludwig / Millette Photomedia. Keep soil moist to wet. This compact selection reaches 3 to 5 feet tall. 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). Even deer tend to leave it alone. Ideally, plant these shrubs in a spot that receives morning sun and afternoon shade. Summersweet can tolerate salty air and even salt spray from nearby streets in urban areas. Ruby Spice Summersweet shrub is a huge color breakthrough for summersweet shrubs that features rich rose-pink blooms that are a first for flowering Clethra. It produces fragrant drooping white flowers in early summer and turns deep red in the fall. Softwood stem cuttings, taken in early summer, are the best way to propagate summersweet. You know a plant like Sugartina 'Crystalina' Summersweet that has two "sweet" words in its name must smell wonderful. David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience.
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