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Itea virginica Love Child

Itea virginica Love Child®
Virginia Sweet Spire

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Struggling after a little over a year...

Christine, 04/05/2024

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This plant carries a 24 months recovery warranty

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A small bush with a compact habit, which forms a regular ball of a beautiful tender green. At the start of summer, it produces clusters of white, slender, and perfumed flowers. In autumn, its foliage takes on superb colours of purple to wine tones. This small bush grows in the sun or in half-shade, in moist, neutral to acidic soil. Quite resistant to the cold, it adapts to gardens of all sizes, even the smallest due to its limited growth.
Height at maturity
1 m
Spread at maturity
1 m
Exposure
Sun, Partial shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -23°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil
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Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to April, September to November
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Flowering time June to July
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Description

Itea virginica 'Love Child' is a variety of Virginia sweet spire with slow and limited growth, which forms a sphere of about 1m (3ft) in all directions, thus finding its place in the smallest gardens. This bush is remarkable for its scented white flowering in early summer. The flowers take the form of graceful pendulous clusters. Its beautiful tender green foliage turns to deep purple in autumn, further enhancing its ornamental interest. Very hardy, this Itea grows in sun or semi-shade, in acidic to neutral soil, remaining moist in summer. 

 

Native to North America, Itea virginica belongs to the Iteaceae family. In the past, it was attached to the equally small Grossulariaceae family, which mainly includes gooseberries. Itea virginica is the only species of the genus native to the American continent, all others come from Southeast Asia, like I. ilicifolia from China, the species probably most common in our gardens with this I. virginica.


Itea virginica has a slow growth rate. It develops about 1.5m (5ft) in all directions. Its tender green to medium green foliage is deciduous and takes on beautiful autumn colours in burgundy tones. Its summer flowering is particularly graceful, in the form of long clusters of small scented white flowers. In nature, this bush grows in coastal areas, in acidic to neutral soil. It prefers moist soil, as it does not like drought, even if it can temporarily withstand it once well-rooted. Hardy to -20°C (-4°F) without problem.

'Love Child' is very close to the species-type, but it has an even more compact habit, making it suitable for small gardens. This bush can be planted in an ericaceous bed.

Itea virginica 'Love Child' is not common in cultivation, but it will delight enthusiasts. Too small to be planted in isolation, it will be perfect in a flower bed, especially with ericaceous soil plants or similar. Hamamelis intermedia 'Diane' planted in the background will create an interesting scene almost all year round; its graceful flowers in small red filaments in winter will start the show while its foliage turning to yellow and red in autumn will support the burgundy purple of 'Love Child'. The superb Magnolia 'Betty', with its dark pink flowers in May, will precede the white clusters of our little Itea. And to take over in summer and autumn, the surprising Hydrangea macrophylla 'Light'o'Day', with its romantic flowers and variegated white foliage, will complete this colourful plant ensemble throughout the season.

 

Itea virginica Love Child in pictures

Itea virginica Love Child (Flowering) Flowering
Itea virginica Love Child (Foliage) Foliage

Plant habit

Height at maturity 1 m
Spread at maturity 1 m
Habit Irregular, bushy
Growth rate slow

Flowering

Flower colour white
Flowering time June to July
Inflorescence Cluster
Fragrance Fragrant

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour light green

Botanical data

Genus

Itea

Species

virginica

Cultivar

Love Child®

Family

Iteacea

Other common names

Virginia Sweet Spire

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference1006731

Planting and care

Plant in neutral to acidic soil, remaining moist in summer, but well-drained in winter. In colder areas, choose a sunny exposure. In warmer regions, it will welcome some shade to maintain a certain humidity of the air. Dig a planting hole of 50cm (20in) in all directions and mix ericaceous soil with the existing soil. Soak the root ball for 20 min in a bucket to thoroughly moisten it before putting it in the ground. Water regularly for the first two years and in summer afterwards.

Planting period

Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to April, September to November

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Woodland edge
Type of use Border
Hardiness Hardy down to -23°C (USDA zone 6a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 1 per m2
Exposure Sun, Partial shade
Soil pH Acidic, Neutral
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light)
Soil moisture Moist soil, well-drained

Care

Pruning No pruning necessary
Soil moisture Moist soil
Disease resistance Very good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground
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