Itea virginica

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Itea virginica
Itea virginica flowers 001.JPG
Flowering branch
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Saxifragales
Family: Iteaceae
Genus: Itea
Species:
I. virginica
Binomial name
Itea virginica

Itea virginica, commonly known as Virginia willow or Virginia sweetspire, is a small North American flowering shrub that grows in low-lying woods and wetland margins. Virginia willow is a member of the Iteaceae family, and native to the southeast United States.[1] Itea virginica has small flowers on pendulous racemes.[2]

Depending on location, the species will bloom in late spring to early summer. It prefers moist rich soil, but it can tolerate a wide range of soil types. When Virginia willow is used in horticulture it can form large colonies and may form dense root suckers, making the shrub hard to remove.

Description[]

Itea virginica is a deciduous shrub that grows to 2.5 m (8.2 ft) tall and 1.5 m (4.9 ft) broad, with alternate, simple leaves on arching stems. The flowers are white or cream, borne in downward pointing slightly curved spikes, in summer. It is a multi-stemmed, suckering and colonizing plant, with the stems branching infrequently except at the tops. In favorable conditions it may become semi-evergreen. The leaves turn shades of red in fall (autumn). It is hardy down to at least −15 °C (5 °F).[3]

Conservation[]

Itea virginica has a current IUCN status of Least Concern.[4] However, Itea virginica is considered extirpated in Pennsylvania and endangered in Indiana.

Taxonomy[]

Itea virginica belongs to the Iteaceae, a family of deciduous and evergreen shrubs.[5] It is the only species in its genus in North America; most Itea species are from east Asia. Some authors have historically placed Virginia sweetspire in the Grossulariaceae or Saxifragaceae families.[6]

Horticulture[]

In cultivation in the UK the cultivar ‘Henry’s Garnet’ has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.[7][8] Itea virginica is used as a native ornamental landscape plant in North America, and numerous cultivars have been named.[9] The flowers attract pollinators, and the shrub can be used for erosion control.[10]

References[]

  1. ^ "Home | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  2. ^ "Itea virginica 'Henry's Garnet' - Plant Finder". www.missouribotanicalgarden.org. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  3. ^ Brickell, Christopher, ed. (2008). The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 582. ISBN 9781405332965.
  4. ^ "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  5. ^ "Plants Profile for Itea virginica (Virginia sweetspire)". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  6. ^ Radford, Albert E. (1968). Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas. Ahles, Harry E., Bell, C. Ritchie. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 0-8078-1087-8. OCLC 355003.
  7. ^ "RHS Plantfinder - Itea virginica 'Henry's Garnet'". Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  8. ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 56. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  9. ^ "Virginia Sweetspire". Home & Garden Information Center. Clemson University. December 17, 2019. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  10. ^ "Home & Garden Information Center". hgic.clemson.edu. Clemson University. Retrieved 2020-12-03.

External links[]

  • Proven Winners [1]


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