Extension Communications Extension 4-H Youth Building Ames, Iowa 50011-3630 (515) 294-9915

11/11/04

Contacts:
Linda Naeve, Reiman Gardens, (515) 294-8946, lnaeve@iastate.edu
Del Marks, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-9807, delmarks@iastate.edu

Reiman's Pick for the week of Nov. 8, 2004

Sweetspire Brightens Shady Areas in Spring and Fall

By Linda Naeve
Reiman Gardens
Iowa State University

In the garden, the brilliant red fall foliage on Virginia sweetspire, Itea virginica, is a bold attention grabber just as its spring flowers invite notice.

When most deciduous trees and shrubs drop their foliage in the fall, Virginia sweetspire's once dark green, glossy leaves provide bold crimson foliage color. In late spring, clusters of white blooms from Virginia sweetspire are produced in fragrant, six-inch long pendulous clusters that brighten shady gardens.

Beyond its color, Virginia sweetspire offers other attractive and unique characteristics for gardens. It is hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9, it is one of the few flowering shrubs with the ability to grow in either full to partial shade and it can tolerate wet soil and resist insects.

Virginia sweetspire is a low growing shrub with a variety of heights. 'Henry's Garnet' is a popular cultivar that grows three to four feet in height and will spread to form a small thicket, four to five feet wide. A dwarf cultivar, 'Little Henry,' grows only 18 to 24 inches tall and three feet wide.

There is no mistaking the bright red Virginia sweetspire shrubs planted throughout Iowa State University's Reiman Gardens. Come and see them for yourself. Reiman Gardens is now open everyday except Thanksgiving and Christmas.

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Editors: Two color photos, suitable for publication, are available at right. Click on each thumbnail photo to go to the fullsized photo. The top picture's fullsize photo is 568K and the bottom picture's fullsize photo is 592K. Caption: In the garden, the brilliant red fall foliage on Virginia sweetspire, Itea virginica, is a bold attention grabber just as its spring flowers invite notice.
Caption: In the fall, Virginia sweetspire's once dark green, glossy leaves provide bold crimson foliage color.

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