As low as $29.99 . 'Sixteen Candles' sweet pepperbush - FineGardening This compact selection reaches 3 to 5 feet tall. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BUSH TO ANYONE That likes a good fragrance and very pretty. I have 9 Scentlandia. For one thing, they're survivors that'll often keep coming back year after year even though they're suffering disease or bug issues. Growing Zones: 3-8 . A versatile shrub for shrub borders, open woodland gardens, foundations . The plant tolerates wetness but on poor sites is thin and straggly. This plant can work in a variety of soil pHs, types, and moisture levels. Sweetspire's dagger-like leaves will change from green to red and orange as they turn. Summersweet is a medium-sized deciduous shrub that adds color and fragrance to your garden with its late-summer blooms. In fall, the leaves turn an attractive yellow. Sweetspires are supposedly versatile and not picky about soil, but I see them doing best in damp soil that's well drained, rich in organic matter, and sited in morning sun and afternoon shade. Effective as a hedge. Little Henry Dwarf Virginia Sweetspire - Monrovia The shrub has a rounded habit and produces cylindrical drooping flowers (racemes) from late spring to mid-summer. We use cookies on this website, you can read about them here. After the bloom, the flowers leave small, dark brown seed capsule fruits that look like peppercorns. A dwarf summersweet shrub with fragrant white flowers and a dense, rounded shape. 1. Then use a good potting medium and seed trays to germinate the plants indoors. If you dont want your shrubs to naturalize, simply clip away the suckers from the base of the plant to maintain a more formal appearance. It has a long period of good autumn color with leaves that turn shades of red, orange, and gold. Thanks. Virginia sweetspire does well during the winter, though those in colder climates might see some dieback of the tips of the shrub during the harsh cold. Then, fall. ProblemsFungal dieback and root rot can occur. Keep in a high-humidity area, and cover with plastic. It enjoys excellent resistance to insects and diseases. PropagationTake greenwood cuttings in early summer. When the root system is well-established and trying to fight its way out of the container, it's time to plant it in the landscape. Discover the right shrubs for your garden. It will come back strong in the spring. In summer, Sixteen Candles is topped with aromatic, erect, butterfly-enticing white blooms for 4 to 6 weeks. It is a lovely shrub and is doing well (I make sure that it gets enough water, especially during this year's drought) except that it has chlorosis. Vanessa Richins Myers has a BS in horticulture and over 10 years of training and experience as a professional horticulturist and gardener. Open them up and remove the seeds. You know a plant like Sugartina 'Crystalina' Summersweet that has two "sweet" words in its name must smell wonderful. Foliage until first hard frost. Orange, green and red leaves all at once. It prefers a slightly acidic pH but grows well in a range of soils. Summersweet typically spreads to 4 to 6 feet and forms an oval shape. Bed. As bboy says, there are dwarf choices for each. There's no need for cold stratification to germinate. Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird' (Summersweet) - Gardenia.net Size. So, I'm only rating this plant as satisfactory. Plant Scentlandia itea near a window or outdoor area where you can enjoy its fragrance. One of the largest summersweet cultivars, featuring rose-colored buds that gradually soften to pale pink as the flowers open and mature. Tolerates full shade. About the bees, well anything with flowers will have bees temporarily. Dig a hole that is at least twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Summersweet is a versatile shrub that thrives in most climates and is suitable as a specimen plant or a hedge. Little Henry Sweetspire. Looking forward to hopefully having blooms next year. So if you'd rather have the fragrant blooms of clethra in the summer (patio season? This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Healthy Soil Is at the Heart of a Thriving Garden, Gardening Gift Ideas for Mothers Day 2023, 6 Fantastic Annuals to Grow From Seed in the Northwest, Lilacs: How to Grow Them and Favorite Varieties, Companion Planting for Successful Southern California Vegetable Gardens, Ready, Set, Spring! In landscape design, they are especially effective massed or grouped in sunny or shady flowering shrub borders, butterfly and hummingbird gardens. To get your plant off to a good start, work some organic matter into the soil and cover the root zone with a layer of mulch to help keep the soil cool and moist. I can grab any that pop up a foot or so away and pull them up back toward the base and clip off. 2023 Proven Winners North America LLC. Get the latest how-to and design inspiration articles plus special offers sent straight to your inbox. Use clean garden shears to cut 3- to 4-inch cuttings, taken in the morning, from well-established healthy plants. Get complete site access to expert advice, regional content, and more, plus the print magazine. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. 25 Shrubs That Like Wet Soil and Full Sun - Traditional Gardening The flowers give way to spikes of dark brown fruits which persist into winter, providing continuing interest. I just planted it this season so I will have to update my review on its performance once it is established. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Summersweet is tolerant of a range of garden conditions including shade . Sweetspire Itea virginica 'Merlot' is a Sweetspire with fragrant white flowers in June and has the most compact habit of our Iteas, with burgundy fall foliage. Summersweets are somewhat unique among flowering shrubs because of their ability to bloom in shady locations in late summer when few other shrubs are in bloom. The plant belongs to one of only two genera in the Clethraceae (white alder) family, with Purdiaea being the other genus. Best Flowering Shrubs for Season-Long Color Remove lower leaves on the cuttings, dip the ends in rooting hormone, and tuck into a mixture of half perlite and half potting soil. And I'd also get rid of the surrounding mulch and bring in fresh mulch in case any scale eggs are lurking in last year's mulch. Summersweet (Sweet pepperbush): How to Grow and Care | Florgeous You could also divide the plants if you'd like during the move. Virginia sweetspire grows quite well in very hot conditions, provided it gets plenty of water. When planted right and in the right spot, Clethra, also called summersweet or sweet pepperbush, are very easy to grow. Sunlight is also a requirement, as these shrubs need full sun as well as slightly acidic soil to achieve the best results. Fizzy Mizzy Sweetspire As low as $29.99 . Find out where you fall in the USDA Hardiness Zones database. Here's what a colony of Virginia sweetspires should look like when not attacked by fungus or bugs. If desired, fertilize in spring with a granular fertilizer formulated for trees and shrubs, like a rose fertilizer. It is also a delightful addition to the mixed border. I'd improve the soil in the new location with an inch or two of compost worked into the loosened top 10 or 12 inches of existing soil. To do so: Fill seeding trays or pots with moist potting mixture, and press the seeds in so they are halfway-buried. Note this is the default cart. Growing Zones: 5-9 Proven Winners. Its yellow fall color extends the season of interest. Only plants will be removed from the collection. When the seedling is robust, plant it in a small container and let it establish a root system. Compact habit is excellent for small gardens. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. sweetspire and summersweet? - Houzz If you want to give these a go, Id suggest to try to buy when they are in bloom to see if they have a scent. What plants are similar to Virginia Sweetspire? I am disappointed in the lack of scent, especially given its name, so for this alone I would rate the shrub as 3 stars. In USDA growing zone 5a (the northern end of its range), a bush will likely experience several inches of winter dieback on the tops of the branches (they turn a tan color). | Letter from the Editor, Watch Out for New Garden Pests Heading This Way, Designing a Beautiful Back BorderPlanting Plan. Copyright 2023. Stay ahead of any root-suckering that may occur if you do not wish for the bushes to spread. are just awful for about a week each year thanks to the bees. Native Shrubs for Gardens with Wet Soil - Horticulture Summersweet is a versatile shrub that thrives in most climates and is suitable as a specimen plant or a hedge. I'm printing it all off so I can refer to it.Tammy. Time to give up on the scraggly sweetspire plants? Gardening - pennlive I plan to buy at least three more. They will also do well in full sun as long as you keep the soil moist. All Rights Reserved. Wandering roots and stems can easily be chopped off and transplanted. I planted two of the LIttle Henry shrubs in a western exposure that gets afternoon sun and heat. This sturdy native shrub is also remarkably adaptable, tolerating shade, soggy soil, and salty air, making it a valuable addition to woodland settings and coastal gardens. It is a bright green in the spring and summer and turns orange and red in the fall. It likes humusy soils, so mixing in compost before planting is a good idea. Itea virginica 'Merlot' | Chicago Botanic Garden Merlot Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica 'Merlot'): Merlot sweetspire is a cultivar (cultivated variety) of Virginia sweetspire which is native to the moist partly-shaded areas of the south-eastern United States. An area with morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal. Summersweet or Virginia Sweetspire- which is more likely to - Reddit Densely-branched, rounded, this summer-flowering shrub spreads slowly by suckers and typically grows 2-4 feet tall (60-120 cm) with a spread of 3-5 ft. (90-150 cm). To use the website as intended please Check these Great Plant Combination Ideas with Clethra, An Eye-Catching Border Idea with colorful Allium and Euphorbia, A Super Climbing Duo with Clematis 'Viola', A Super Climbing Duo with Clematis montana Grandiflora, A Super Climbing Duo with Clematis 'The President', A Super Climbing Trio with Clematis 'Ville de Lyon', A Super Climbing Trio with Clematis and Roses, A Super Climbing Duo with Crimson Roses and Purple Clematis, 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, A2, A3, Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird' (Summersweet), Densely-branched, rounded, this summer-flowering shrub spreads slowly by suckers and typically grows 2-4 feet tall (60-120 cm) with a spread of 3-5 ft. (90-150 cm). Be inspired with our Gardener's Idea Book and Winner's Circle newsletter, Little Henry - Sweetspire - Itea virginica. Q: My Virginia sweetspire plants have looked awful by summer's end the last two years. Je peux rejeter les cookies non essentiels en cliquant sur Grer mes prfrences . Find out where you fall in the USDA Hardiness Zones database. FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: Plants, Design Ideas, Gardening Solutions & More! On this page: Basics | Planting | Care | Summersweet Varieties | Landscaping Ideas, Typically 3 to 8 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide, with the exception of dwarf varieties, Mid to late summer, with the blooms lasting 4 to 6 weeks, Glossy, dark green, and oval-shaped, with serrated margins. Plant in spring after the ground thaws or in early fall before it freezes. As of August 2020, they have gotten larger over the course of the year and put out upward branches in a loose open habit but also runners underground. Height 2.5-3 Feet Tall. Planted Little Henry last fall. Bears exceptionally large, pure white flowers almost a foot in length, nearly twice the size of other varieties. I want to put something , not to tall, around my cement patio. The flowers are notable for their size, how late they bloom, and their ability to bloom even in the shade. A compact cultivar bearing large clusters of clove-scented white flowers that are irresistible to bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. Even deer tend to leave it alone. Noteworthy CharacteristicsA shorter cultivar selected for its sturdy branching system and large (up to 6 inches), upright, white flowering "candles". He's planted in a alkaline soil with some shade. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. A profusion of fragrant white flower spikes attract butterflies. Top 20 Native Shrubs for Sun and Shade - Smithsonian Gardens Root suckering will be most prevalent with shrubs planted in wet ground. Be inspired with our Gardener's Idea Book and Winner's Circle newsletter, Scentlandia - Sweetspire - Itea virginica. Chokeberries, also known as Aronia, are multi-stemmed shrubs with white flowers, red or black glossy berries, and great red fall color. Softwood stem cuttings, taken in early summer, are the best way to propagate summersweet. I've read the reviews and was looking forward to seeing the blooms and pollinators. Such dieback in winter means the loss of some of the flower buds that produce blooms in spring. The scent and flowers are perfect in the garden and the winter interest color is gorgeous. Clethra alnifolia 'Sixteen Candles' - Chicago Botanic Garden 'Sixteen Candles' sweet pepperbush, or summersweet, is a newer cultivar of a popular native shrub. Clay and wet soil tolerant. Prune as needed to maintain the desired shape and remove dead, diseased, and damaged branches. They were dormant when I got them. Definitely loved by the deer and it colonizes out of control. Propagation Take greenwood cuttings in early summer. May be pruned after blooming if required. Typically grows 3-4' (less frequently to 5') tall with a similar spread. They were beautiful in the fall, changing to shades of red, and held their leaves for a while. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources. So far, the plant is doing very well. For me, clethra blooms much later (in the summer) than itea (late spring bloomer). Feed these plants each spring with a balanced granular fertilizer mixed into the soil. They were purchased at 3 different times of the year from 2 different sellers in spring 2019. This may sound drastic, but what I'd probably do in your case is whack back all growth to the ground and burn or get rid of the wood. We'll see how the plants perform Spring and Summer before making a final decision on the plants. Right now - the deer are enjoying browsing the plants every evening so I take it that they didn't read the plant description. Attracts butterflies. Let us know what you decide. Find plants you love and create idea boards for all your projects. Create appealing and long-lasting planting judywhite / GardenPhotos.com, Botanik Foto. Clethra alnifolia, commonly called summersweet, is a deciduous shrub that is native to swampy woodlands, wet marshes, stream banks and seashores, often in sandy soils, along the coast from Maine to Florida and west to Texas. I did and found LOTS of scales up and down the stems. To create an idea board, sign in or create an account. I would another, If i had space for it. 'Sixteen Candles' is a compact rounded shrub growing slowly to 4-5 feet high and 2-3 feet wide and is suitable for borders, screens or as a specimen plant. Plant summersweet in an area that receives full sun to part shade. Any ideas?Tammy. I planted them in groups of 3 in 3 locations around my home. Native to swampy woodlands and marshes, clethra flourish in wet ground and will even tolerate standing water, making them a good choice for low-lying areas of the garden. Prefers part shade and consistently moist, acidic, sandy soils. Garden Uses: Sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia), also called summersweet, is a Maryland native plant found in forested wetlands, floodplains, and swamps. I have a grouping of Little Henry Sweetspire right near my patio and love it.