Rating 4 stars because it is a gorgeous plant with stunning fall foliage that stayed around all winter. I took one star off, however, because the flowers had absolutely no scent whatsoever. That’s not a huge deal for me, but it’s slightly disappointing since the scent is supposed to be such s huge selling point for this plant.
Scentlandia® Sweetspire Itea virginica
Flower Season
- Summer
- Fall
Mature Size
Height: 2' - 3'
Spread: 2' - 3'
Height: 61cm - 91cm
Spread: 61cm - 91cm
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Details
24 - 36 Inches24 - 36 Inches24 - 36 Inches61cm - 91cm61cm - 91cm61cm - 91cmFeatures
Sweet summertime fragrance.
We sniffed dozens of different sweetspires in pursuit of the most fragrant variety, and we can say with confidence that we've found it in Scentlandia® itea. Though this native plant is much beloved for its sweetly scented summer blooms, not all plants exhibit equally strong fragrance, so it was our primary goal in introducing our next variety. We also wanted a smaller variety that works with any size landscape, and outstanding fall color so that the plant stays interesting beyond its bloom time. Scentlandia® sweetspire delivers on all three! The flowers aren't just longer, larger, and more fragrant than other varieties - they're also more cold tolerant, assuring a good display even in USDA zone 5 where flower buds are frequently damaged. Itea is one of the most shade tolerant flowering shrubs and thrives even in wet soils, making it an excellent problem solver.
Available in better garden centers in spring 2019.
Top reasons to grow Scentlandia® sweetspire:
- More fragrant than other sweetspire varieties
- Better bud hardiness means better performance in USDA zones 5 and 6
- One of the most shade tolerant flowering shrubs
Fragrant FlowerFall InterestDrought TolerantErosion ControlBog PlantAttracts:BeesButterfliesResists:DeerNative to North AmericaCharacteristics
Plant Type:ShrubShrub Type:DeciduousHeight Category:ShortGarden Height:24 - 36 Inches 61cm - 91cmSpacing:24 - 36 Inches 61cm - 91cmSpread:24 - 36 Inches 61cm - 91cmFlower Colors:WhiteFoliage Colors:GreenFoliage Shade:GreenHabit:MoundedContainer Role:FillerPlant Needs
Light Requirement:Full ShadeLight Requirement:Part Shade to ShadeLight Requirement:Part Sun to SunLight Requirement:SunLight Requirement:Sun or ShadeThe optimum amount of sun or shade each plant needs to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours).
Maintenance Category:EasyBlooms On:Old WoodBloom Time:Early SummerHardiness Zones:5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9bWater Category:AverageUses:Border PlantUses:Edging PlantUses:GroundcoverUses:LandscapeUses:Mass PlantingUses:Specimen or Focal PointUses Notes:Plant Scentlandia itea near a window or outdoor area where you can enjoy its fragrance. Its small stature makes it a nice choice for adding color and scent to perennial gardens.
Itea is one of the few shrubs that will still flower reasonably well even in shade.
Maintenance Notes:Itea needs little maintenance. In spring, after new growth begins to emerge, you can remove any stems that aren't showing signs of life - do not prune until you see signs of new growth. Mulch is a good idea.
Scentlandia® Itea virginica 'SMNIVDFC' USPP 30,233, Can 6,650 -
7 Reviews
52413421Browse reviews from people who have grown this plant.-
Mary, Maryland, United States, 40 weeks ago
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Lost to winter here in Colorado zone 5. Little Henry itea in same location have all come back, though with a good amount of dieback. Willing to give Scentlandia another try, but only one.
Douglas Johnson, Colorado, United States, 41 weeks ago -
Purchased this plant in late April and over the past three months it has adapted well and had significant growth. As another review said, I purchased this for the fall interest and for the lovely smell that it is supposed to possess. The spires came and went and absolutely no smell at all. Very disappointed and am hoping for the brilliant fall color it is supposed to have.
Linda S, Illinois, United States, 2 years ago -
Right now - the deer are enjoying browsing the plants every evening so I take it that they didn't read the plant description. bought five of them and the deer have said Thank You. So, I'm only rating this plant as satisfactory. We'll see how the plants perform Spring and Summer before making a final decision on the plants. I've read the reviews and was looking forward to seeing the blooms and pollinators. We'll see if they make it.
LMiller, Washington, United States, 3 years ago -
I have 9 Scentlandia. They were purchased at 3 different times of the year from 2 different sellers in spring 2019. They were dormant when I got them. I planted them in groups of 3 in 3 locations around my home. They bloomed in 2019 — no fragrance detected. They were beautiful in the fall, changing to shades of red, and held their leaves for a while. Spring 2020, bloomed nicely but still no scent detected, even up close. I never pruned them at any point. Pollinators liked them. 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. The runners aren’t extremely aggressive. I can grab any that pop up a foot or so away and pull them up back toward the base and clip off. I am disappointed in the lack of scent, especially given its name, so for this alone I would rate the shrub as 3 stars. This was a big selling point for me and I would have chosen something else for the area of my garden where I was really looking forward to the scent. If you want to give these a go, I’d suggest to try to buy when they are in bloom to see if they have a scent. I am a huge fan of Proven Winners and own a lot of their shrubs, perennials, and annuals, and they usually do not disappoint.
Lisa G., Pennsylvania, United States, 3 years ago -
I purchased 6 of these and absolutely love them. The scent and flowers are perfect in the garden and the winter interest color is gorgeous.
Amy H, New Jersey, United States, 3 years ago -
I would another, If i had space for it. BEST SMELL,I have it at my front porch. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BUSH TO ANYONE That likes a good fragrance and very pretty.
Saundra, Virginia, United States, 5 years ago
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