Great for grouping and for massing on large banks, in beds, and perennial and shrub borders. Get the latest how-to and design inspiration articles plus special offers sent straight to your inbox. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BUSH TO ANYONE That likes a good fragrance and very pretty. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Dig a hole that is at least twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. 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. Its fragrant, bottlebrush flowers are a darker pink; they attract butterflies, bees, and other insects in late summer and early fall. Softwood stem cuttings, taken in early summer, are the best way to propagate summersweet. Join now and start creating your dream garden! Their vibrant color will create a pop of color in your border until those first frosts settle in. The Best Deer Resistant Plants for Your Garden Little Henry Sweetspire. More about the newsletter. Work in a bit of pelleted sulfur or organic matter, such as sawdust or leaves. Vanilla Spice Buy now from Proven Winners. Discover the right shrubs for your garden. Thanks. Create appealing and long-lasting planting judywhite / GardenPhotos.com, Botanik Foto. Browse reviews from people who have grown this plant. Also appropriate for moist soils along stream banks or pond/water garden peripheries. Itea virginica Little Henry (Virginia Sweetspire) - Gardenia.net The blooms are raceme flowers, 2- to 6-inches long, that may be white, pink, or rose-colored and have a sweet fragrance. Be inspired with our Gardener's Idea Book and Winner's Circle newsletter, Little Henry - Sweetspire - Itea virginica. 21 Low-Maintenance Plants. They were purchased at 3 different times of the year from 2 different sellers in spring 2019. In summer, Sixteen Candles is topped with aromatic, erect, butterfly-enticing white blooms for 4 to 6 weeks. 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). PropagationTake greenwood cuttings in early summer. Q: My Virginia sweetspire plants have looked awful by summer's end the last two years. As low as $29.99 . Bury the seed one inch in the soil and keep it moist. It likes humusy soils, so mixing in compost before planting is a good idea. Compact size makes this an ideal flowering shrub for smaller gardens. For one thing, they're survivors that'll often keep coming back year after year even though they're suffering disease or bug issues. Soils should not be allowed to dry out. As summer progresses shiny, disease-free foliage appears until fall when the foliage turns a stunning garnet-red. In landscape design, they are especially effective massed or grouped in sunny or shady flowering shrub borders, butterfly and hummingbird gardens. Pollinators liked them. It is a tough, dependable plant with three-season interest, especially in shady, wet sites. While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. Virginia sweetspire grows quite well in very hot conditions, provided it gets plenty of water. 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? David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience. Clethra alnifolia--Summersweet, Sweet Pepperbush | Old House Web She is a former Clemson University Extension Agent. Such dieback in winter means the loss of some of the flower buds that produce blooms in spring. They were beautiful in the fall, changing to shades of red, and held their leaves for a while. less likely to get leggy, bloom better) than the other. Scentlandia - Sweetspire - Itea virginica | Proven Winners . As low as $29.99 . Flowers give way to dark brown seed capsules (1/8" diameter) which may persist into winter. The foliage is a nice bright green in summer. 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. In the right conditions, it can spread and fill in quickly via suckering roots, making it good for erosion control. Vanilla Spice summersweet (Clethra alnifolia)Photo by: Proven Winners. It also attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Healthy Soil Is at the Heart of a Thriving Garden, Gardening Gift Ideas for Mothers Day 2023, 6 Fantastic Annuals to Grow From Seed in the Northwest, Lilacs: How to Grow Them and Favorite Varieties, Companion Planting for Successful Southern California Vegetable Gardens, Ready, Set, Spring! Hot climates call for more water. Sign up for a free trial and get access to ALL our regional content, plus the rest Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). That'll take the majority of scale insects and eggs along with it. This compact Sweetspire starts out the summer with a beautiful display of fragrant white flowers that blanket the shrub. 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. It prefers a slightly acidic pH but grows well in a range of soils. I wouldn't give up on your sweetspires, though. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. * Required | We will never sell or distribute your email to any other parties or organizations. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Supply plants with composted organic matter to encourage roots to spread. A good choice for smaller gardens and tight spaces. Summersweet or Virginia Sweetspire- which is more likely to - Reddit This compact selection reaches 3 to 5 feet tall. 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 grows well in both full sun and partial shade, though it will achieve the best shape, flower color, and fall color in full sun. Plant this shrub in humusy, well-drained soil that is somewhat on the moist side. 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. 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. To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of our site. To form solid hedges, space plants a distance equal to their mature width. 'Sixteen Candles' sweet pepperbush, or summersweet, is a newer cultivar of a popular native shrub. Was delivered healthy and packaged very well. Severe cases can kill the plant. Then watch for a return of the leaf-spotting and scale. Plant near a patio to enjoy the fragrant late summer bloom. I have 9 Scentlandia. Slow growing; reaches 3 to 4 ft. tall, slightly wider. What plants are similar to Virginia Sweetspire? 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. In such climates, plant it along woodland edges where it gets partial shade, which will help the plants stay cool and thrive. Store them in a sealed container, tucked away in the refrigerator until spring rolls around. 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. Summersweet thrives in moist climates, and tolerates both heat above 100 degrees Fahrenheit and freezing cold winters. Little Henry - Sweetspire - Itea virginica | Proven Winners Native to the woodlands of eastern North America, it is a good choice for woodland borders. 'Sixteen Candles' sweet pepperbush - FineGardening Sunlight is also a requirement, as these shrubs need full sun as well as slightly acidic soil to achieve the best results. Get plant information, gardening solutions, design inspiration and more in our weekly newsletter. As noted by others it depends on your preferred features. The shallow root system is suckering and tends to form clumps. As noted by others it depends on your preferred features. All Rights Reserved. Grows up to 2-3 ft. tall and wide (60-90 cm). Pruning in the spring risks removing the flower buds. Easily grown in average, medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. Choose Options. 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. Its branches are dense, making it suitable for hedges or privacy screens (best in summer, of course). Best Flowering Shrubs for Season-Long Color The shrub grows best in partial shade and a moist, slightly acid soil. are just awful for about a week each year thanks to the bees. Provide moist, humus-rich, slightly acidic, well . This plant is best grown in full sun to part shade in average, medium to wet, acidic, sandy soils. I am a huge fan of Proven Winners and own a lot of their shrubs, perennials, and annuals, and they usually do not disappoint. 'Little Henry' might work. When the seedling is robust, plant it in a small container and let it establish a root system. Tolerates full shade. Stressed plants are more likely to run into bug and disease problems than "happy" ones in soils, sites and weather they prefer. 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. This shrub flowers on new wood, so pruning for shape is best done in spring. 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. Gorgeous little plant. The serrated, glossy, dark green foliage turns golden-yellow in fall. Finally, give the plants a good soaking and try to keep them damp throughout at least this first summer. Because clethra bloom on new growth, prune during winter or early spring to avoid removing developing flower buds. 10 Shrubs That Smell as Good as They Look - My Garden Life We'll see if they make it. I plan to buy at least three more. Choose Options. The runners arent extremely aggressive. About the bees, well anything with flowers will have bees temporarily. This plant is best grown in full sun, part shade or full shade in average, medium to wet, slightly acid, well-drained soils. Enhancing the prolific floral display are lustrous green leaves that turn brilliant golden-yellow in fall. 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. They can be planted immediately, or the following spring. Has few insect or disease problems, with the exception of spider mites, which are more common when plants are stressed by hot, dry conditions. Height 2.5-3 Feet Tall. Bed. 2023 Proven Winners North America LLC. The species gets tall and rangy, so it is worth seeking out the cultivar . USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9. Summersweet is a versatile shrub that thrives in most climates and is suitable as a specimen plant or a hedge. I would another, If i had space for it. "Take time to smell the flowers" doesn't have to be just a clich. Given ideal conditions, this plant can survive for up to 40 years. Virginia sweetspire is a deciduous shrub with arching stems and alternate simple leaves that are oval in shape and dark green in color. 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! Once the roots are in place, you can move it out to the landscape. . Nice plant for an area you want to be filled in away from the house where deer are not a problem. To create an idea board, sign in or create an account. Use as an underplanting beneath trees or in a woodland garden. '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. Find a Garden Center that carries Proven Winners plants & products. Noteworthy Characteristics. How to Take Care of Ruby Spice Summersweet - Home Guides Definitely loved by the deer and it colonizes out of control. It is a bright green in the spring and summer and turns orange and red in the fall. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Growing Zones: 3 . This sturdy native shrub is also remarkably adaptable, tolerating shade, soggy soil, and salty air, making it a valuable addition to woodland settings and coastal gardens. Fizzy Mizzy Sweetspire As low as $29.99 . Mass or group in lawns, foundations or shrub borders. Little Henry is a useful native plant with lots of potential for the home landscape. As colorful as burning bush, but native to North America and pollinator friendly! In fall, the leaves turn an attractive yellow. Because of its versatility and modest size, summersweet bush has a multitude of uses in both formal and informal gardens. Get daily tips & tricks to help make your best home, How to Grow Virginia Sweetspire From Seed, Potting and Repotting Virginia Sweetspire. A broad, upright habit makes it well-suited for use as a fragrant hedge or privacy screen. During the late summer or early fall, collect the small brown seed pods from the plant. Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird' (Summersweet) is a gorgeous, compact, slowly spreading, deciduous shrub that features bottlebrush spikes of extremely fragrant white flowers which bloom for 4-6 weeks in mid to late summer. Grows well in wet areas. The leaves have been getting black spots, and now my tree-care company told me they noticed scale insects. Choose Options. I've read the reviews and was looking forward to seeing the blooms and pollinators. I would re-purchase based on the fall interest alone. Equally as pretty in the fall with it's bright orange 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). They will thrive in coastal areas as well because of their resistance to salt spray and brackish water. After the bloom, the flowers leave small, dark brown seed capsule fruits that look like peppercorns. The shrub has a rounded habit and produces cylindrical drooping flowers (racemes) from late spring to mid-summer. Be inspired with our Gardener's Idea Book and Winner's Circle newsletter, Scentlandia - Sweetspire - Itea virginica. No serious insect or disease problems. We use cookies on this website, you can read about them here. Its small size makes it perfect for smaller borders and beds. Browse reviews from people who have grown this plant. Politique d'Utilisation des Cookies de Houzz. Will grow in shade, but flowering and fall color improves when the plant gets at least some sun each day. Copyright 2023. This shrub is the rare type that divides easily by cutting its root ball into sections, thanks to its prolific suckering habit. A compact cultivar bearing large clusters of clove-scented white flowers that are irresistible to bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. This plant is quite hardy and doesn't have any serious pests to contend with. Mary has been a Master Gardener for 30+ years and a commercial and residential gardener for 50+ years. Then I'd look for an afternoon-shade location and transplant the stubby remnants and roots there. Itea virginica 'Merlot' | Chicago Botanic Garden Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird' (Summersweet) - Gardenia.net Only plants will be removed from the collection. Also may be naturalized in cottage gardens, wild gardens or naturalized areas. Cover with a thin layer of sand, then keep them in low light under plastic. Thanks. Summersweet seeds are easy to plant and they germinate quickly; seeds can be harvested in autumn and have no specific storage needs. 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. The Latin name for summersweet is Clethra alnifolia. Itea is one of the most shade tolerant flowering shrubs and thrives even in wet soils, making it an excellent problem solver. 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. 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. Chokeberries, also known as Aronia, are multi-stemmed shrubs with white flowers, red or black glossy berries, and great red fall color. Water regularly to keep the soil moist, especially during the first growing season. 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. Once roots are establishedat least five weeks, but likely longeryou can bring your cuttings outside to plant in your garden. I've seen some new growth in the month or so since planted. 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. One of its most attractive characteristics is to produce great blooms in shady locations. This Sugartina has fragrant white flowers that appear by mid-summer. Warmer climates call for more shade. 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. Its natural environment includes wet and swampy areas of woodland as well as marshes and river banks. Summersweet is a versatile shrub that thrives in most climates and is suitable as a specimen plant or a hedge. Any ideas?Tammy. I just planted it this season so I will have to update my review on its performance once it is established. The foliage of the Little Henry Sweetspire is stunning. Slow-growing summersweet's leaves are obovate and serrated, 1 1/2- to 4-inches long, and change from a glossy dark green in summer to yellow or brown in the fall. Ruby Spice Summersweet - Ruby Spice Clethera | Spring Hill Plant near a patio or other outdoor living space to fully enjoy the sweet-smelling flowers. Lots of good points here on things to consider. Thrives in moist, wet areas, but once established, can tolerate dry conditions. And if I battle the scales, how would I go about it? Virginia sweetspire grows best full sun but will tolerate part shade. 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. Propagate by cuttings. Available in better garden centers in spring 2019. Get the latest how-to and design inspiration articles plus special offers sent straight to your inbox.