She is a former Clemson University Extension Agent. Its fragrant, bottlebrush flowers are a darker pink; they attract butterflies, bees, and other insects in late summer and early fall. Summersweet is a versatile shrub that thrives in most climates and is suitable as a specimen plant or a hedge. 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. No problems, no diseases, not fussy at all and both have grown to 3'x3' with plenty of flowers and great Fall color. Characteristics Plant Type: Shrub Shrub Type: Deciduous Height Category: Short Garden Height: 24 - 36 Inches Spacing: 24 - 36 Inches Spread: 24 - 36 Inches Flower Colors: White Foliage Colors: Green Foliage Shade: Green Habit: Mounded Container Role: Filler Plant Needs Light Requirement: Full Shade 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. I have a grouping of Little Henry Sweetspire right near my patio and love it. Spread 2-3 Feet Wide. ), that might be the right one. 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. The scent and flowers are perfect in the garden and the winter interest color is gorgeous. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. That'll take the majority of scale insects and eggs along with it. About 4 to 6 feet apart, depending on the size at maturity and the intended use. Equally as pretty in the fall with it's bright orange foliage. Softwood stem cuttings, taken in early summer, are the best way to propagate summersweet. Wow, So much info. Being a water-loving plant, it works well at the edges of ponds, streams, and marshy areas. Root greenwood cuttings in early summer. Orange, green and red leaves all at once. Find plants you love and create idea boards for all your projects. Here's what a colony of Virginia sweetspires should look like when not attacked by fungus or bugs. The runners arent extremely aggressive. A versatile shrub for shrub borders, open woodland gardens, foundations . 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). It enjoys, Promptly remove root suckers unless a naturalized look is desired. 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 shrub is the rare type that divides easily by cutting its root ball into sections, thanks to its prolific suckering habit. Dig a hole that is at least twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Julie Thompson-Adolf is a Master Gardener and author. A dwarf summersweet shrub with fragrant white flowers and a dense, rounded shape. Perfectly suited for covering large banks, beds and borders. Sixteen Candles sweet pepperbush, or summersweet, is a newer cultivar of a popular native shrub. I planted this spring. They can be planted immediately, or the following spring. There could be several reasons why your Virginia sweetspire isn't blooming, and the first of those reasons is waternot nearly enough of it. Clay and wet soil tolerant. A dependable shrub that is native from coastal Maine south to north Florida and then west to the eastern edge of Texas. Sugartina 'Crystalina' summersweet(Clethra alnifolia)Photo by: Proven Winners. This is a good plant for woodland gardens or at the front of the mixed border. Once the roots are in place, you can move it out to the landscape. Sugartina 'Crystalina' Buy now from Proven Winners. As noted by others it depends on your preferred features. It is a tough, dependable plant with three-season interest, especially in shady, wet sites. Place your shrub in the hole, gently spreading out the roots, and then backfill to ground level and water well. Effective as a hedge. Sunlight is also a requirement, as these shrubs need full sun as well as slightly acidic soil to achieve the best results. 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. Virginia sweetspire is a deciduous shrub with arching stems and alternate simple leaves that are oval in shape and dark green in color. Definitely loved by the deer and it colonizes out of control. As low as $29.99 . You say to plant "around" the patio, does that mean you are looking at planting several? Discover the right shrubs for your garden. 2023 Proven Winners North America LLC. Although these bushes are considered plants tolerant of wet groundand clay soils, they will nonetheless perform best in well-drained soils. Pollinators liked them. This year Henry
Attracts butterflies. Summersweet is 3 to 10 feet tall and 3 to 8 feet wide at maturity. So if you'd rather have the fragrant blooms of clethra in the summer (patio season? Propagation Take greenwood cuttings in early summer. bought five of them and the deer have said Thank You. I want to be able to see over the plants if I want to sit out on my patio. The foliage is a nice bright green in summer. 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). Effective in mass, mixed into perennial borders or along foundations. You know a plant like Sugartina 'Crystalina' Summersweet that has two "sweet" words in its name must smell wonderful. Create long-lasting, pleasing contrasts in your garden. Their scent will hang beautifully in the air! I have clethra in sun here in Georgia and it does fine and flowers heavily. Its yellow fall color extends the season of interest. Consider the hours of sunlight you wish your summersweet to receive during its growing season. I am disappointed in the lack of scent, especially given its name, so for this alone I would rate the shrub as 3 stars. Any ideas?Tammy. Full Shade to Full Sun. Q: My Virginia sweetspire plants have looked awful by summer's end the last two years. But OH MY WORD! Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. Flea beetles can be handled with neem oil, while leaf spot is remedied through neem oil, baking soda solutions, copper fungicide, or copper and pyrethrins. Summersweet is a versatile shrub that thrives in most climates and is suitable as a specimen plant or a hedge. SUMMERSWEET VARIETIES LANDSCAPING IDEAS BASICS Zones: 4-9 Plant type: Deciduous shrub Native area: Eastern and southern North America Exposure: Full sun to part shade Mature size: Typically 3 to 8 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide, with the exception of dwarf varieties Growth rate: Slow Bloom time: 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. Propagate by cuttings. Virginia sweetspire grows best full sun but will tolerate part shade. Choose Options. It works well in a naturalized landscape or garden. May be pruned after blooming if required. In early spring, fertilize your summersweet with a slow-release formula meant for trees and shrubs. Lots of good points here on things to consider. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. To do so: Fill seeding trays or pots with moist potting mixture, and press the seeds in so they are halfway-buried. "Take time to smell the flowers" doesn't have to be just a clich. Even deer tend to leave it alone. Choose Options. Growing Zones: 3 . Garden Uses: Sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia), also called summersweet, is a Maryland native plant found in forested wetlands, floodplains, and swamps. In USDA growing zone 5a (the northern end of its range), a bush will likely experience several inches of winter dieback on the tops of the branches (they turn a tan color). Create appealing and long-lasting planting judywhite / GardenPhotos.com, Botanik Foto. 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. 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? Get daily tips & tricks to help make your best home, How to Grow Virginia Sweetspire From Seed, Potting and Repotting Virginia Sweetspire. 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. Some people would recommend using a fungicide to combat the leaf disease and horticultural oil or a similar scale-killing insecticide to deal with the bugs. I'd improve the soil in the new location with an inch or two of compost worked into the loosened top 10 or 12 inches of existing soil. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Good flowering shrub for shade or woodland gardens. Summersweet is hard to transplant and slow to recover from transplanting. Summersweet is tolerant of a range of garden conditions including shade . They also suggested as an option pulling the plants and starting over again. For me, clethra blooms much later (in the summer) than itea (late spring bloomer). Here's what a colony of Virginia sweetspires should look like when not attacked by fungus or bugs. Will grow in shade, but flowering and fall color improves when the plant gets at least some sun each day. In summer, 'Sixteen Candles' is topped with aromatic, erect, butterfly-enticing white blooms for 4 to 6 weeks. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. And if I battle the scales, how would I go about it? Browse reviews from people who have grown this plant. Summersweet tolerates clay soil and full shade. Consistent moisture in well-draining soil is a must. This compact selection reaches 3 to 5 feet tall. Grow taller varieties as hedges or privacy screens or as a backdrop in a perennial garden. Except for fertilization and minor pruning, this plant is maintenance-free. I am adding an iron product to the soil and hope that it improves the health of the plants. Itea is one of the few shrubs that will still flower reasonably well even in shade. Native to the woodlands of eastern North America, it is a good choice for woodland borders. 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. Work in a bit of pelleted sulfur or organic matter, such as sawdust or leaves. A broad, upright habit makes it well-suited for use as a fragrant hedge or privacy screen. I bought 2 Itea quart-size in 2015 when we first moved to our house, located on a windy mountain, zone 6, and on heavy, wet Virginia clay. Merlot is named for its fall color which is dark red and persists into winter. What is not to love??? 20 Fragrant Flowering Plants Wandering roots and stems can easily be chopped off and transplanted. Make sure there are other plants around, as the plant will look bare until the leaves appear at the end of spring. 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. are just awful for about a week each year thanks to the bees. Thanks. They will thrive in coastal areas as well because of their resistance to salt spray and brackish water. I'd hate to give up on sweetspire because it's a pretty plant when it's healthy. I have a grouping of Little Henry Sweetspire right near my patio and love it. Deciduous. Be inspired with our Gardener's Idea Book and Winner's Circle newsletter, Scentlandia - Sweetspire - Itea virginica. Here is a link that might be useful: Little Henry in fall Iris GW 16 years ago bogie 16 years ago erictammy Original Author 16 years ago Wow, So much info. I plan to buy at least three more. This Sugartina has fragrant white flowers that appear by mid-summer. Provide moist, humus-rich, slightly acidic, well . Then, fall. Soil: moist to wet soil; pH 4.5-6.5. Pruning in the spring risks removing the flower buds. The Garden wouldn't be the Garden without our Members, Donors and Volunteers. 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. A: I've seen occasional fungal leaf-spotting on Virginia sweetspires, but scale attack isn't common. Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. Their vibrant color will create a pop of color in your border until those first frosts settle in. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Find out where you fall in the USDA Hardiness Zones database. I purchased 6 of these and absolutely love them. . Compact habit is excellent for small gardens. Get complete site access to expert advice, regional content, and more, plus the print magazine. This compact Sweetspire starts out the summer with a beautiful display of fragrant white flowers that blanket the shrub. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. They bloomed in 2019 no fragrance detected. Native from southern New Jersey down to Florida, it is winter hardy to Zone 5 . We sniffed dozens of different sweetspires in pursuit of the most fragrant variety, and we can say with confidence that we've found it in Scentlandia itea. Does well in sun or shade, dry or wet soil, all types of soil (normal, clay or sandy) & nice red fall color! All Rights Reserved. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Nice plant for an area you want to be filled in away from the house where deer are not a problem. One of its most attractive characteristics is to produce great blooms in shady locations. 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. I want to put something , not to tall, around my cement patio. The first thing that occurs to me is that your plants are stressed in some way. Copyright 2023. 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. Is blooming and starting to increase in
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. If your site already is morning sun and afternoon shade, I'd try digging the plants and replanting into improved soil (see above). I've seen some new growth in the month or so since planted. No serious insect or disease problems. All Rights Reserved. In fall, the leaves turn an attractive yellow. Plant in spring after the ground thaws or in early fall before it freezes. BEST SMELL,I have it at my front porch. I planted them in groups of 3 in 3 locations around my home. Find plants you love and create idea boards for all your projects. Keeping a Virginia sweetspire in a container for the first season is entirely possible. Suggested Use: Hedge, Naturalize, Rain Garden, Tolerate: Heavy Shade, Erosion, Clay Soil, Wet Soil. Bury the seed one inch in the soil and keep it moist. Itea is one of the most shade tolerant flowering shrubs and thrives even in wet soils, making it an excellent problem solver. This compact selection reaches 3 to 5 feet tall. That way you get blooms and fragrance at different points of the summer, and the great fall foliage of the sweetspire. Get complete site access to expert advice, regional content, and more, plus the print magazine. 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. 20+ Rain Garden Plants So, I'm only rating this plant as satisfactory. Use in a mixed border with other spring- and summer-blooming shrubs that like moist soils, such as. Get the latest how-to and design inspiration articles plus special offers sent straight to your inbox. Given ideal conditions, this plant can survive for up to 40 years. NC State Extension Service Plant Finder. This plant is best grown in full sun to part shade in average, medium to wet, acidic, sandy soils. of the member-only content library. Plant Scentlandia itea near a window or outdoor area where you can enjoy its fragrance. Summersweet thrives in moist climates, and tolerates both heat above 100 degrees Fahrenheit and freezing cold winters. To jumpstart growth, feed in early spring with a slow-release fertilizer or an all-purpose organic plant food. To create an idea board, sign in or create an account. 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. 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. They were purchased at 3 different times of the year from 2 different sellers in spring 2019. Warmer climates call for more shade. Typically grows 3-4' (less frequently to 5') tall with a similar spread. 2023 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. Itea virginica. 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. 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. Native to the woodlands of eastern North America, it is a good choice for woodland borders. 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). Houzz Pro: One simple solution for contractors and design pros, Its bottlebrush flowers attract bees and butterflies, while its stunning orange and scarlet foliage draws all who pass by, Personnaliser mon exprience l'aide de cookies, Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists, Tempe Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers, Redondo Beach Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers, Saint Louis Park Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers, Adrian Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures, Bonney Lake Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures, Wildomar Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures, Great Design Plant: Wildlife-Loving Dwarf Fothergilla Blazes in Fall. Shady conditions may limit the flower production and mute the autumn color. I find the fragrance of the Clethra more dramatic but find the fall foliage of 'Little Henry' one of the best fall foliage plants. We use cookies on this website, you can read about them here. Compact size makes this an ideal flowering shrub for smaller gardens. It likes humusy soils, so mixing in compost before planting is a good idea. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BUSH TO ANYONE That likes a good fragrance and very pretty. 'Sixteen Candles' sweet pepperbush, or summersweet, is a newer cultivar of a popular native shrub. 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. This shrub flowers on new wood, so pruning for shape is best done in spring. Sign up for a free trial and get access to ALL our regional content, plus the rest Water regularly to keep the soil moist, especially during the first growing season. Grows up to 2-3 ft. tall and wide (60-90 cm). Summersweet spreads slowly by suckering roots and will colonize over time. Summersweet seeds are easy to plant and they germinate quickly; seeds can be harvested in autumn and have no specific storage needs. For a much larger shrub, go with Hollyleaf Sweetspire which can grow up to 12 feet high. 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. Size. I've read the reviews and was looking forward to seeing the blooms and pollinators. 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. Grows well in wet areas. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Finally, give the plants a good soaking and try to keep them damp throughout at least this first summer. Was delivered healthy and packaged very well. If so, and the site is suitable, maybe do a mixed planting. Virginia sweetspire is a deciduous shrub with arching stems and alternate simple leaves that are oval in shape and dark green in color. As colorful as burning bush, but native to North America and pollinator friendly! 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. Stressed plants are more likely to run into bug and disease problems than "happy" ones in soils, sites and weather they prefer. 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. This may sound drastic, but what I'd probably do in your case is whack back all growth to the ground and burn or get rid of the wood. The Latin name for summersweet is Clethra alnifolia. Hot climates call for more water. 1. Because clethra bloom on new growth, prune during winter or early spring to avoid removing developing flower buds. 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. Planted Little Henry last fall. The blooms are raceme flowers, 2- to 6-inches long, that may be white, pink, or rose-colored and have a sweet fragrance. . 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. Some varieties are shorter than average for the species. The only common problems that this shrub faces are spider mites. Ideally, plant these shrubs in a spot that receives morning sun and afternoon shade. 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). Keep in a high-humidity area, and cover with plastic. Its branches are dense, making it suitable for hedges or privacy screens (best in summer, of course). Plant near a patio to enjoy the fragrant late summer bloom. The species gets tall and rangy, so it is worth seeking out the cultivar . 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! Full shade is tolerated. About the bees, well anything with flowers will have bees temporarily. Summersweet. Burning Bush is a plant quite similar to this one, though it is more susceptible to disease and pests. Itea virginica, commonly called Virginia sweetspire, is an erect, rounded, broad-spreading, deciduous shrub with arching branches. Very disappointed and am hoping for the brilliant fall color it is supposed to have. Soils should not be allowed to dry out. Great for grouping and for massing on large banks, in beds, and perennial and shrub borders. I've bought 2 more to put a nice arc around my
Its small size makes it perfect for smaller borders and beds. Join now and start creating your dream garden! Summersweet can tolerate salty air and even salt spray from nearby streets in urban areas. matthew dyer obituary, suni lee smile with teeth,
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