Itea virginica
| Itea virginica | |
|---|---|
| |
| Flowering branch | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Saxifragales |
| Family: | Iteaceae |
| Genus: | Itea |
| Species: | I. virginica
|
| Binomial name | |
| Itea virginica | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
Itea virginica, commonly known as Virginia willow or Virginia sweetspire, is a small North American flowering shrub that grows in low-lying woods and wetland margins. Virginia willow is a member of the Iteaceae family, and native to the southeast United States.[3] Itea virginica has small flowers on pendulous racemes.[4]
Depending on location, the species will bloom in late spring to early summer. It prefers moist rich soil, but it can tolerate a wide range of soil types. When Virginia willow is used in horticulture it can form large colonies and may form dense root suckers, making the shrub hard to remove.
Description
[edit | edit source]Itea virginica is a deciduous shrub that grows to 2.5 m (8.2 ft) tall and 1.5 m (4.9 ft) broad, with alternate, simple leaves on arching stems. The plant's white or cream flowers bloom in summer, borne in downward-pointing, slightly curved spikes. It is a multi-stemmed, suckering and colonizing plant, with the stems branching infrequently except at the tops. In favorable conditions it may become semi-evergreen. The leaves turn shades of red in fall (autumn). It is hardy down to at least −29 °C (−20 °F).[5]
Distribution and habitat
[edit | edit source]I. virginica's range extends from New Jersey south to Florida, and westward to Texas and Oklahoma.[6]
This species' has been observed in shaded and wet areas, such as swamps, wooded floodplains, pine forests, and hydric hammocks.[7]
Conservation
[edit | edit source]Itea virginica is listed as "apparently secure" overall by NatureServe, and critically imperiled in Pennsylvania, Indiana and Oklahoma.[1]
Taxonomy
[edit | edit source]Itea virginica belongs to the Iteaceae, a family of deciduous and evergreen shrubs.[8] It is the only species in its genus in North America; most Itea species are from east Asia. Some authors have historically placed Virginia sweetspire in the Grossulariaceae or Saxifragaceae families.[9]
Horticulture
[edit | edit source]In cultivation in the UK the cultivar 'Henry's Garnet' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[10][11] Itea virginica is used as a native ornamental landscape plant in North America, and numerous cultivars have been named.[12] The flowers attract pollinators, and the shrub can be used for erosion control.[13]
References
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- ^ Weakley, A.S. 2020. Flora of the Southeastern United States. Edition of 20 October 2020. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
- ^ Florida State University Herbarium Database. URL: [1]. Last accessed: June 2021. Collectors: Loran C. Anderson, Kathleen Craddock Burks, Richard Carter, Robert K. Godfrey, R. Komarek,K. M. Meyer, and A. Townesmith. States and counties: Florida: Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Marion, and Taylor. Georgia: Thomas.
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External links
[edit | edit source]
- Proven Winners [2]
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