Itea virgininca Scentlandia® (Virginia Sweetspire) Unity Grown

Itea virginica Scentlandia® is a showy, more floriferous cultivar of sweetspire, a suckering shrub native to much of the southeastern US, as far north as Pennsylvania and as far west as Texas. Growing to only 2-3' tall and about as wide, Scentlandia® is a more condensed and manageable version of the parent species, which can reach 4-8' tall, with all of the same ecological appeal. In the late spring and summer, Itea virginica Scentlandia® produces immensely fragrant bottlebrush flower clusters around 3" long that attract a huge variety of pollinators and provide a wonderful floral aroma to the garden; though Scentlandia® flowers may be a bit smaller than other cultivars, these flower clusters are produced in much greater quantity, adding a dense, blanketing effect, especially when planted in masses. In the fall, brilliant wine-red foliage lasts into winter to create multi-season appeal.

Itea virginica Scentlandia® prefers full sun or part shade, making it a great addition to small beds and borders, but it also works great in shadier open woodland environments too. Scentlandia® sweetspire is not picky about soils, requiring only medium-wet well-draining earth, and tolerating wet soil, deer damage, and seasonal erosion thanks to its suckering roots.

(Photos courtesy of Proven Winners)