Itea virginica Little Henry®
Common name: 
Little Henry Sweetspire
Pronunciation: 
i-TE-a ver-JIN-i-ka
Family: 
Grossulariaceae
Genus: 
Itea
Synonyms: 
‘Sprich’
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Deciduous shrub, small, 2-4 ft (0.6-1.2 m) tall, spreading.  Leaves are medium green in the summer, outer leaves turn bright red-purple in late fall, interior leaves turn shades of yellow and orange.  Flowers abundant, in 10 cm long clusters.
  • Sun to light shade, tolerates deep shade, but is more dense, has more flowers, and better fall color in sun.  Best in moist, fertile soil.  Prune in late winter to promote vigorous new growth.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 5   Discovered as a branch sport of Itea virginica growing in a garden in 1987, a selection from Hummingbird Nursery in Burlington, Kentucky   (PP 10988, ‘Sprich’).  Little Henry it the registered trademark (1998) for this plant and owned by Spring Meadow Nursery, Grand Haven, Michigan.
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  • plant habit, flowering

    plant habit, flowering

  • flower clusters

    flower clusters