Itea virginica Little Henry ('Sprich'PBR)

RHS Plant Profile
Virginia sweet spire [Little Henry]

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Synonyms

Itea virginica 'Sprich'PBR

Shrubs
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A compact, upright then arching deciduous shrub to 1.5m tall, with narrowly ellliptic, finely toothed, dark green leaves. Fragrant, creamy white flowers are borne in dense, erect spikes to 15cm long in summer. A free-flowering cultivar that takes on excellent, fiery red and purple autumn colour. Grow in a moist shrub border or as a free-standing specimen

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
1-1.5 metres
Max Height
1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H6

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Iteaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Itea can be deciduous shrubs, or evergreen shrubs or small trees, with small white, cream or pale green flowers
Name Status
Trade

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist, slightly acid soil in partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by sowing seed as soon as ripe in containers in an open frame, or by greenwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

See pruning group 2

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility