Little Henry Itea is a compact shrub that produces fragrant white flowers in spring and red foliage in fall. Grown in zones 5-9, it reaches 2-3 ft tall.
Little Henry Itea
Little Henry Itea (Itea virginica 'Little Henry') is a dwarf cultivar of Virginia sweetspire, a native shrub of the eastern United States. It is known for its dense foliage, long bottlebrush-like blooms, and brilliant fall foliage.
Little Henry Itea typically grows to be 2-3 feet tall and wide, with a rounded habit of growth. Its leaves are small and oval-shaped, emerging light green in spring and turning a deep green in summer. In late spring to early summer, the shrub produces long, drooping clusters of white flowers. The flowers are fragrant and attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.
In fall, the leaves of Little Henry Itea turn a brilliant red-purple, providing a stunning display of color. The shrub is relatively low-maintenance and can be grown in full sun to partial shade. It prefers moist, well-drained soil but is tolerant of a variety of soil conditions, including clay and sandy soils.
Little Henry Itea is a versatile shrub that can be used in a variety of landscape settings. It is well-suited for use as a foundation planting, border shrub, or specimen plant. It can also be used to create a hedge or privacy screen.
Here are some tips for growing Little Henry Itea:
- Choose a planting site that receives full sun to partial shade and has moist, well-drained soil.
- Amend the soil with compost or other organic matter before planting.
- Water regularly, especially during the first growing season.
- Fertilize in the spring with a balanced fertilizer.
- Mulch around the base of the shrub to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- Prune in the late winter or early spring to remove dead or damaged branches and to maintain the shape of the shrub.
Little Henry Itea is a beautiful and versatile shrub that can add interest and color to your landscape. With proper care, it will thrive for many years to come.
Note: The plant is shipped in its pot, firmly secured with several layers of clear tape, thereby avoiding any shuffling and moving during transit. The plant reaches you with minimal damage- very safe and secure. We have been shipping plants like this for several years (plant are sometimes shipped in smaller pots for safety and ease of shipping). Most plants go dormant in fall and winter and will lose most of their leaves - looking dead and dry - very normal. They will flush out in spring.
We cannot send ship some plants and some sizes to California due to restrictions placed by department of agriculture.
Growing Zones: 5-9 outdoors
| Mature Height: | 30 ft. |
| Sunlight: | Full Sun |
| Mature Width: | 30 ft. |
| Botanical Name: | Koelreuteria paniculata |
| Growth Rate: | Moderate |
